[Morphological study of CD3+ dendritic epidermal T cells in human skin and scar].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the CD3/TCR-bearing T cell in the epidermis and explore the influence of the dendritic epidermal T cells on regeneration and differentiation of epidermal cells.


METHODS
The CD3/TCR-bearing T cells in epidermis of human skin and cicatrix were examined by means of histomorphology and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
It was found that the density of CD3/TCR-bearing T cells in human skin and scar tissue had great dissimilarity. CD3+ dendritic epidermal T cells increased in hyperplastic scar. Such result was not observed in atrophic scar.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate CD3+ dendritic epidermal T cells regulate the generation and differentiation of epidermal cells. CD3+ dendritic epidermal T cells may play an important role in the maintenance of the morphology of epidermal tissue.
Cai
Z
Z
Plastic Surgery Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100041.
Ma
H
H
Zhao
R
R
D000328:Adult; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell