Langerhans cells develop from a lymphoid-committed precursor.
Langerhans cells (LCs) are specialized dendritic cells (DCs) strategically located in stratified epithelia, such as those of the skin, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, upper airways, urethra, and female reproductive tract, which are exposed to a wide variety of microbial pathogens. LCs play an essential role in the induction of T-lymphocyte responses against viruses, bacteria, and parasites that gain access to those epithelial surfaces, due to their high antigen capture and processing potential and their capacity to present antigen peptides to T cells on migration to the lymph nodes.(1) Although LCs have been classically considered of myeloid origin, recent reports, which demonstrate the existence of lymphoid DCs derived from multipotent lymphoid precursors devoid of myeloid differentiation potential,(2-5) raise the question of the lymphoid or myeloid origin of LCs. The present study shows that mouse lymphoid-committed CD4(low) precursors, with the capacity to generate T cells, B cells, CD8(+) lymphoid DCs, and natural killer cells,(26) also generate epidermal LCs on intravenous transfer, supporting the view that LCs belong to the lymphoid lineage. (Blood. 2000;96:1633-1637)
Anjuère
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Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
del Hoyo
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GM
Martín
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Ardavín
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C
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000528:radiation effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2