title: Immunoelectronmicroscopical demonstration of major histocompatibility class II antigen: expression on endothelial and perivascular cells but not Schwann cells in human neuropathy.
abstract: A pre-embedding technique for identifying major histocompatibility (MHC) class II antigen with monoclonal antibody LN3 at the electron microscope level by immunogold silver enhancement was applied to sections from 12 human nerve biopsies. Many perivascular mononuclear cells in the epineurium, perineurium and endoneurium expressed MHC class II antigen and had the morphological appearance of macrophages. Cell processes expressing MHC class II antigen extended throughout the endoneurium, often close to Schwann cells. No MHC class II expression was identified on myelinating or non-myelinating Schwann cells. The endothelial cells of epineurial blood vessels expressed MHC class II antigen on their luminal surfaces more often and more strongly than those of the endoneurial vessels. These observations indicate that perivascular cells in both the endoneurium and perineurium commonly express the molecules necessary to present antigen to CD4+ T lymphocytes, but Schwann cells do not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016610:Tissue Embedding; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II