title: Langerhans cell precursors acquire RANK/CD265 in prenatal human skin.
abstract: The skin is the first barrier against foreign pathogens and the prenatal formation of a strong network of various innate and adaptive cells is required to protect the newborn from perinatal infections. While many studies about the immune system in healthy and diseased adult human skin exist, our knowledge about the cutaneous prenatal/developing immune system and especially about the phenotype and function of antigen-presenting cells such as epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) in human skin is still scarce. It has been shown previously that LCs in healthy adult human skin express receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), an important molecule prolonging their survival. In this study, we investigated at which developmental stage LCs acquire this important molecule. Immunofluorescence double-labeling of cryostat sections revealed that LC precursors in prenatal human skin either do not yet [10-11 weeks of estimated gestational age (EGA)] or only faintly (13-15 weeks EGA) express RANK. LCs express RANK at levels comparable to adult LCs by the end of the second trimester. Comparable with adult skin, dermal antigen-presenting cells at no gestational age express this marker. These findings indicate that epidermal leukocytes gradually acquire RANK during gestation - a phenomenon previously observed also for other markers on LCs in prenatal human skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunobiology of the Skin, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schöppl
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunobiology of the Skin, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunobiology of the Skin, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Johnnie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akgün
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunobiology of the Skin, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunobiology of the Skin, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: adelheid.elbe-buerger@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Adelheid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elbe-Bürger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; C505686:TNFRSF11A protein, human
keywords: Development; Langerhans cells; Precursor; Prenatal; RANK; Skin