title: Langerhans cells--revisiting the paradigm using genetically engineered mice.
abstract: Langerhans cells (LCs) are prominent dendritic cells (DCs) in epithelia, but their role in immunity and tolerance is poorly defined. 'Knockin' mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the langerin (CD207) gene were recently developed in order to discriminate epidermal LCs from other DC subsets and at the same time to track their dynamics under steady-state or inflammatory conditions in vivo. Additional knockin mice expressing a diphtheria toxin receptor fused to EGFP were used to conditionally ablate LCs and assess their role in triggering hapten-specific T cell effectors through skin immunization. We review the insights that have been provided by these various knockin mice and discuss gaps in our knowledge of LCs that need to be filled.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, INSERM-CNRS-Université de la Méditerrannée, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Case 906, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kissenpfennig
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malissen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology