title: Histiocytosis-X: in situ characterization of cutaneous infiltrates with monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Cutaneous lesions in three cases of histiocytosis-X were studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunoperoxidase technics. In each case, Birbeck granule-containing histiocytosis-X cells infiltrated the epidermis and were apposed to lymphocytes. The histiocytosis-X cells and normal Langerhans cells stained with anti-T6 and anti-I1 (Ia-like) antibodies but were negative with anti-T3, anti-T8, anti-M1, and anti-lysozyme antibodies. In addition, the histiocytosis-X cells also stained with anti-T4 antibodies, which react with T-cells associated with helper/inducer phenotype. This study supports the hypothesis that histiocytosis-X cells are abnormal Langerhans cells. The presence of T4/T6-positive cells in cutaneous disease may be a marker for abnormal Langerhans cells.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal