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. 2012 May;16(2):239-44.
doi: 10.4103/0973-029X.99077.

Pathophysiology of Langerhans cells

Shweta Jaitley  1 , Tr Saraswathi
Affiliations

Pathophysiology of Langerhans cells

Shweta Jaitley et al. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2012 May.

Abstract

Langerhans cells (LCs) were first described by Paul Langerhans, in 1868, as dendritically shaped cells, which were located in the squamous epithelia of epidermis. Later on, these cells were identified in all stratified squamous epithelium of mammals. Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in local defense mechanisms in the epithelium. LCs are situated usually in the suprabasal layer of stratified squamous epithelia of oral mucosa and epidermis of skin. They constitute 3% of the cell population in epidermis. LCs are thought to act as antigen presenting cells (APCs) during initiation of immune responses. With the help of APCs, the lymphocytes are able to recognize and respond to specific microbes. In this paper we have reviewed the origin, distribution, demonstration and mechanism of action of LCs and their role in different pathological conditions.

Keywords: Antigen presenting cells; Langerhans cells; clear cells; dendritic cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Types of dendritic cells. (Abbreviations; MHC - Major histocompatibility antigen, DC-SIGN - Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular adhesion molecule-3-Grabbing Non-integrin, DC-LAMP - Dendritic cell-lysosomal associated membrane protein, DEC - Dendritic cell receptor for endocytosis.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Myeloid and Lymphoid series further differentiating into dendritic cell subsets. (Abbreviation; DCs - dendritic cells)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Photomicrograph of gingival epithelium showing CD1a positive Langerhans cells within the stratum spinosum
Figure 4
Figure 4
Photomicrograph of gingival epithelium showing CD1a positive Langerhans cells with long dendritic processes and some with spherical morphology
Figure 5
Figure 5
Langerhans cell with cleaved nucleus and numerous Birbeck granules within the cytoplasm
Figure 6
Figure 6
Antigen recognition by Langerhans cells present in the epithelium and initiation of T-cell response. (Abbreviations; PAMPs – Pathogen-associated molecular patterns, MHC – Major histocompatibility antigen, IL – Interleukin, TNF – Tumor necrosis factor, TGF – Transforming growth factor, GM-CSF – Granulocyte monocyte colony stimulating factor, TCR – T cell receptor)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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