Langerhans cells in prurigo nodularis investigated by HLA-DR and S-100 immunofluorescence double staining.
The Langerhans cell is one of the antigen-presenting cells in the immune system. To study the presence of cutaneous Langerhans cells in prurigo nodularis, age- and sex-matched prurigo nodularis patients and healthy volunteer skin biopsies were investigated by an HLA-DR and S-100 immunohistochemical double staining method. The results showed that the HLA-DR- and S-100-immunoreactive (IR) Langerhans cells were altered in prurigo nodularis epidermis and dermis. The number of epidermal Langerhans cells in the prurigo nodularis patients was decreased in five and increased in two cases. In the dermis, the HLA-DR- and S-100-IR cells were apparently more numerous than in the controls. In the involved skin there were also more S-100-IR coarse nerve fibres in the dermis as compared to controls. The results indicate that dermal Langerhans cells (HLA-DR and S-100 double-labeled) as well as other dermal HLA-DR- and S-100-IR dendritic cells, but most likely not epidermal Langerhans cells, may be critically involved in the development or persistence of prurigo nodularis.
Johansson
O
O
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Liang
Y
Y
Heilborn
J D
JD
Marcusson
J A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011536:Prurigo / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D009418:S100 Proteins