title: Quantitative analysis of Langerhans' cells in oral chronic graft-vs.-host disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology (Pathology), Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil. eraduan@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Erika Sinara Lenharo
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Orti-Raduan
authors.forename: Adauto José Ferreira
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Denise Tostes
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Vanessa Soares
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: Luís Antônio de Assis
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Taveira
mesh_terms: 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