Reactivity of epidermal Langerhans cells to a histochemical method for demonstration of beta-glucuronidase.
Sheets or sections of mouse epidermis reacted by a histochemical method for the enzyme beta-glucuronidase display a subpopulation of dendritic cells which correspond in number and spacing to Langerhans cells demonstrated by reactivity for ATPase or Ia antigens. A similar staining pattern is seen in rat, rabbit, and guinea pig epidermis. In rhesus monkey and human skin, Langerhans cells appear to be reactive for beta-glucuronidase but, as keratinocytes are also reactive, Langerhans cells are not readily identifiable by this method. The thermal stability of beta-glucuronidase differs between strains of mice. Langerhans cells of Balb/C and C3H strains can thus be distinguished by appropriate pretreatment before incubation, a method of potential value for experimental investigations of the origin of Langerhans cells.
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D005966:Glucuronidase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases