Increased number of dendritic epidermal T cells associated with induced anagen phase of hair cycles.
With the use of immunofluorescent staining we investigated the number and the morphologic and phenotypic changes of murine dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC) at various phases of the hair cycle that were synchronized by depilation. The epidermis on day 1 after depilation contained a small number of DETC, round DETC populated at perifollicular space on day 7, and then a large number of DETC with conspicuous dendrites were found mainly at interfollicular space on day 10. This suggests that the in situ proliferation of DETC may be correlated at least partly to the hair cycle, and that hair follicles, which are major skin appendages, may be involved in cutaneous immunity.
Division of Dermatology, National Tousei Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
H
H
Hashizume
Y
Y
Tokura
M
M
Takigawa
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000502:physiology; D006197:Hair / Q000502:physiology*; D006204:Hair Removal; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology