The functional role of Langerhans cells.
Langerhans cells represent a subpopulation of mammalian epidermal cells. The recent findings that these cells are the only epidermal cells which express Fc-IgG receptors, C3 receptors and Ia antigens support the early suggestion that they are related to cells from the monocyte-macrophage-histiocyte series. In this report, evidence is presented that epidermal Langerhans cell can replace Ia-bearing macrophages in their capacity to induce antigen-specific and allogeneic T cell activation. The possible clinical implications of these findings are discussed with regard to the role of Langerhans cells as sensitizing factors in contact hypersensitivity and skin graft rejection.
D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000473:pathology; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D011946:Receptors, Antigen