title: The Langerhans cell: the master key to contact dermatitis: a hypothesis.
abstract: A tentative model is presented which is based on existing published data. The model suggests that the epidermal Langerhans cell plays a central role in contact dermatitis by proliferation control of keratinocytes and as the most peripheral outpost of the immune system. Contact dermatitis to chemicals is the injurious expression of a defense mechanism designed phylogenetically against arthropods and insects.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000276:immunology