title: CD207+ Langerhans cells constitute a minor population of skin-derived antigen-presenting cells in the draining lymph node following exposure to Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: Infectious cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni gain entry to the mammalian host through the skin where they induce a transient inflammatory influx of mononuclear cells. Some of these cells have antigen-presenting cell function (MHCII+) and have been reported to migrate to the skin-draining lymph nodes (sdLN) where they have the potential to prime CD4+ cells of the acquired immune response. Here, in mice exposed to vaccinating radiation-attenuated schistosome larvae, which induce high levels of protective immunity to challenge infection, we describe the parasite-induced migration of Langerhans cells (LCs) from the epidermal site of immunisation to the sdLN using a specific monoclonal antibody that recognises langerin (CD207). CD207+ cells with dendritic morphology were abundant in the epidermis at all times and their migration into the dermis was detected soon after vaccination. All CD207+ LCs were MHCII+ but not all MHCII+ cells in the skin were CD207+. LCs migrated from the dermis in enhanced numbers after vaccination, as detected in dermal exudate populations recovered after in vitro culture of skin biopsies. Elevated numbers of CD207+ LCs were also detected in the sdLN from 24h to 4 days after vaccination. However, compared with other dermal-derived antigen-presenting cells that were CD207-MHCII+ or CD207-CD11c+, the relative numbers of CD207+ cells in the dermal exudate population and in the sdLN were very small. Furthermore, the migration of CD207+ cells after exposure to 'protective' radiation-attenuated, compared with 'non-protective' normal cercariae, was similar in terms of numbers and kinetics. Together, these studies suggest that CD207+ LCs are only a minor component of the antigen-presenting cell population that migrates from the epidermis and they are unlikely to be important in the priming of protective CD4+ cells in the sdLN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of York, York, UK.
authors.forename: Supeecha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumkate
authors.forename: Gavin R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Ross A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Paveley
authors.forename: Karen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Hogg
authors.forename: Adrian P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mountford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005260:Female; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C498497:Cd207 protein, mouse; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins