title: Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of Langerhans cells in condyloma acuminatum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are few studies on the abnormal morphology of Langerhans cells (LCs) in condyloma acuminatum (CA) lesions and the essence of the abnormal morphology of LCs in CA lesions is still not well elucidated. The aim of this study was to further investigate the morphological features of LCs in CA lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  CD1a(+) LCs in 13 CA lesions and in 13 normal controls were labeled using immunohistochemistry and examined by light microscopy. Ultrastructural investigation on LCs in six CA lesions and in six normal controls was performed by electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with those in normal controls, most CD1a(+) LCs in CA lesions exhibited dysplastic dendrities and abnormal distribution. The number of CD1a(+) LCs in CA lesions (26.31 +/- 18.84) was statistically lower (p < 0.001) than that in normal controls (72.00 +/- 27.40). Electron microscopy showed that the number of Birbeck granules within lesional LCs (4.00 +/- 2.94) was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) than that within normal LCs (10.80 +/- 4.78). The ultrastructures of most lesional LCs displayed degenerative changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The morphology of most LCs in CA lesions shows degenerative changes, which suggest that these LCs have been functionally impaired.
authors: Department of Dermatology, The Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. fjyfjy888@163.com
authors: Jin-Yun
authors: JY
authors: Feng
authors: Zhen-Hui
authors: ZH
authors: Peng
authors: Xiao-Ping
authors: XP
authors: Tang
authors: Song-Mei
authors: SM
authors: Geng
authors: Yu-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D052816:Foreskin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; D015415:Biomarkers; C419393:CD1a antigen