Role of cytokines in epidermal Langerhans cell migration.
In the epidermal compartment of skin, keratinocytes (KC), Langerhans cells (LC), and their soluble products, i.e. cytokines, constitute a unique immunologic microenvironment. KC participate in cutaneous immune responses by producing various cytokines. LC, a member of the dendritic cell (DC) family, represent the professional antigen-presenting cells in the epidermis. Although it has been demonstrated that migration of LC from skin to lymph nodes is a critical step for the antigen presentation, molecular mechanisms for such an event remain unclear. Recent studies suggest that cytokines are able to modulate LC/DC migration. There is accumulating evidence that proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha promote LC emigration from the skin, whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is a counter-regulator. LC/DC express chemokine receptors. Chemokines generated from lymphatic endothelial cells and lymph node cells play a role in the directional migration of LC/DC into lymph nodes. This article reviews current studies on the role of cytokines in LC/DC migration.
Division of Dermatology, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Wang
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Amerio
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Sauder
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines