title: Expression of adhesion molecules in Langerhans' cell histiocytosis.
abstract: Expression of adhesion molecules was investigated in six biopsy specimens of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis using immunocytochemistry. Cells with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis morphology were stained for ICAM-1, for the beta-1 integrins alpha-4 (VLA-4) and alpha-5 (VLA-5) , and for the beta-2 integrins LFA-1, MAC-1 and p150,95. This pattern of reactivity was different from that of epidermal Langerhans' cells of the normal skin which were not immunostained. A variable number of CD68+ multinucleated giant cells was present in five biopsies. They were less reactive than the cells of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis for alpha-4 (VLA-4) and LFA-1, were positive for MAC-1 and p150,95 and were characterized by prominent expression of the beta-1 integrins alpha-2 (VLA-2), alpha-3 (VLA-3) and of VnR (alpha-v/beta-3). The repertoire of adhesion molecules expressed by giant cells is indicative of profound cell-matrix interactions, whereas that of Langerhans' histiocytosis cells suggests particularly active cell-cell interactions. Blood vessels of the lesions were stained for beta-1 integrins, for vitronectin receptor and for molecules involved in adhesion and trans-endothelial migration of circulating leukocytes, such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin. Additional findings were the observation of CD1a + multinucleated giant cells in a single case, suggesting a possible lineage relationship with the histiocytosis cells, and the demonstration of some Ki-67+ Langerhans' cell histiocytosis cells and CD1a+ mitotic figures in four of six cases, indicating local proliferation of Langerhans' histiocytosis cells.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biopatologia Umana, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ruco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoppacciaro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vitolo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uccini
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Baroni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019040:E-Selectin; D005260:Female; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin / Q000378:metabolism; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1