Quantitative analysis of Langerhans' cells in oral chronic graft-vs.-host disease.
BACKGROUND
The Langerhans cells (LCs) are scattered throughout the epithelium of skin and mucosa and have been associated with the graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD), which is the highest cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who underwent bone marrow transplant (BMT). This study aims at quantifying the LCs in the oral chronic GVHD (cGVHD).


METHODS
Microscopic sections from biopsies carried out in the buccal mucosa of 40 patients who underwent allogenic BMT and developed (20) or not (20) oral cGVHD (Groups 1 and 2, respectively) were utilised. For the control group, free surgical margins of 20 biopsies of non-inflammatory lesions in the buccal mucosa (Group 3) were used. The sections were studied in routine colouration and immunostained for CD1a.


RESULTS
Group 1 (with cGVHD) presented a greater number of Langerhans' cells/mm(2) (50.6 +/- 37.2) when compared with the other groups (Group 2, 23.11 +/- 19.7; Group 3, 16.6 +/- 17.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a greater recruitment of LCs in patients transplanted with cGVHD, probably as a result of cytokines secreted by the inflammatory cells.
Orti-Raduan
Erika Sinara Lenharo
ES
Department of Stomatology (Pathology), Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil. eraduan@yahoo.com.br
Nunes
Adauto José Ferreira
AJ
Oliveira
Denise Tostes
DT
Lara
Vanessa Soares
VS
Taveira
Luís Antônio de Assis
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult