Langerhans' cells in skin tumors.
METHODS
We studied 58 skin specimens of normal skin (NS), basal cell epithelioma, squamous cell carcinoma, seborrheic keratosis, and malignant melanoma for the presence of Langerhans' cells (LCs) in and above the tumor. Anti-CD1 was used as a marker for LCs. All specimens were also incubated with anti-CD4, which also labels a certain number of LCs.


RESULTS
All tumors contained LCs in the tumor and overlying epidermis. The number of LCs over basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma was significantly lower than in normal skin and seborrheic keratosis. These results are presented in detail and are compared with former studies discussing the different methodological approaches.


CONCLUSIONS
Langerhans' cells were present in the epidermis of all the examined tumors. A certain percentage of LCs express CD4 surface antigen. This percentage varies from tumor to tumor.
Department of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany.
T U
TU
Schreiner
G
G
Lischka
G
G
Schaumburg-Lever
D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens