title: Gingival organotypic culture and langerhans cells: a tool for immunotoxicologic experiments.
abstract: Langerhans cells (LCs) are dendritic cells localized in epidermis and mucosal tissues, where they are responsible for triggering the immune response. To study LCs in the oral epithelium, organotypic cultures were prepared using gingival explants. Immunochemical techniques using anti-CD1a, anti-HLA-DR, and anti-Langerin antibodies were used to detect and quantify LCs at various times. Observations were made by light and confocal microscopy. Quantification studies showed that there is a statistically significant drop in LC numbers in the epithelial tissue after 96 h of incubation. Gingival organotypic cultures thus are a good model for studying the migration of LCs and their involvement in contact hypersensitivity and periodontal diseases. The model offers potential utility as a tool for the study of periodontal tissue in the presence of different stimuli and for conducting immunotoxicologic experiments.
authors.affiliation: Equipe de Biologie Buccale UPRES-EA 1256, Université de Rennes I, 2 place Pasteur, 35000 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamarque
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pellen-Mussi
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rougier
authors.forename: Jacky
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Le Lan
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chesne
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonnaure-Mallet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001681:Biological Assay; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005881:Gingiva; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C419393:CD1a antigen; C121916:CD207 protein, human; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins