Reduced Langerhans' cell Ia antigen and ATPase activity in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
We investigated the possible role of a defect in antigen-presenting cells in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), by enumeration of Langerhans' cells, the epidermal antigen-presenting cells. These cells were stained for the characteristic markers, surface Ia antigen and surface ATPase activity. A significant reduction was observed in the number of stained cells per square millimeter of body-surface area in 24 patients with AIDS and either opportunistic infections (Ia, 258 +/- 34, and ATPase, 274 +/- 46) or Kaposi's sarcoma (Ia, 378 +/- 100, and ATPase, 530 +/- 26), as compared with 38 appropriate controls (Ia, 721 +/- 13, and ATPase, 693 +/- 12). Examination of six patients with an "AIDS-related complex" revealed significantly reduced numbers of Langerhans' cells per square millimeter; this reduction was more pronounced in staining for Ia antigen (306 +/- 69) than in staining for ATPase activity (517 +/- 101). Given the known role of Ia expression in antigen presentation, we suggest that functional alterations in Langerhans' cells, and perhaps also in antigen-presenting cells in tissues other than skin, may be involved in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases