HLA-DR positive epidermal Langerhans' cells in liver cirrhosis and immunosuppressed liver transplanted patients.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the number of Langerhans' cells (LC) in immunosuppressed liver transplanted patients, compared to patients with liver cirrhosis and healthy volunteers. The detection of LC was performed in the epidermal sheet of each patient by using indirect immunoperoxidase and ATPase staining. A significant reduction in the number of LC was found in the liver transplanted patients as compared to patients with liver cirrhosis and healthy volunteers. This reduction may be related to prolonged treatment with corticosteroids and azathioprine.
Gilhar
A
A
Skin Research Laboratory, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Enat
R
R
Baruch
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine