title: Distribution changes of epithelial dendritic cells in canine cornea and mucous membranes related to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dendritic cells (DCs) are important immune mediators following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We screened for DC frequency in the cornea and oral mucous membranes after HSCT by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) in a canine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo CLSM images of the epithelia were taken the day before and on days 28, 56 and 112 following HSCT. Peripheral blood counts and chimerism were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase of DCs after HSCT was detected in each animal in both investigated tissue types. Highest DC numbers in the flew and the gingiva were detected on day 28 and in the corneal epithelium on day 56 after HSCT, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes of DCs in ocular and non-ocular mucous membranes can be monitored by CLSM in vivo. The DC frequency in the cornea and mucosa changes following HSCT. DC recovery is rapid and their numbers correlate with the development of chimerism of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
authors.affiliation: University of Rostock, Division of Medicine, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany. christian.junghanss@med.uni-rostock.de.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Killian
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichard
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knueppel
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Anett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sekora
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Knuebel
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murua Escobar
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guthoff
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stachs
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junghanss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D009928:Organ Specificity
keywords: Dendritic cells; chimerism; confocal laser scanning microscopy; epithelium; stem cell transplantation