Langerhans cells
Langerhans cells are dendritic cells (antigen-presenting immune cells) of the skin and mucosa, and contain large granules called Birbeck granules. They are present in all layers of the epidermis, but are most prominent in the stratum spinosum.[2] They also occur in the papillary dermis, particularly around blood vessels,[2] as well as in the oral mucosa, foreskin, and vagina.[3] They can be found in other tissues, such as lymph nodes, particularly in association with the condition Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).
Contents
History
The Langerhans cell is named after Paul Langerhans, a German physician and anatomist, who discovered the cells at the age of 21 while he was a medical student.[4] Because of their dendritic nature, he mistakenly identified the cells as part of the nervous system.[5]
Function
In skin infections, the local Langerhans cells take up and process microbial antigens to become fully functional antigen-presenting cells.
Generally, dendritic cells in biological tissue are active in the capture, uptake and processing of antigens. Once dendritic cells arrive in secondary lymphoid tissue, however, they lose these properties while gaining the capacity to interact with naive T-cells.
Langerhans cells derive from the cellular differentiation of monocytes with the marker "Gr-1" (also known as "Ly-6G/Ly-6C"). This differentiation requires stimulation by colony stimulating factor (CSF)-1.[6] They are similar in morphology and function to macrophages.
Langerin is a protein found in Langerhans cells,[7] and other types of dendritic cells.[8]
Clinical significance
LCH
In the rare disease Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), an excess of these cells is produced. This can cause damage to skin, bone and other organs.
HIV
Former hypothesis
Kawamura et al. (2005) suggested Langerhans cells may be initial cellular targets in the sexual transmission of HIV,[9] and as a target, reservoir, and vector of dissemination.[10]
Hussain & Lehner (2005) observed Langerhans cells have been observed in foreskin, vaginal, and oral mucosa of humans; the lower concentrations in oral mucosa suggest that it is not a likely source of HIV infection relative to foreskin and vaginal mucosa.[3]
Present view
On 4 March 2007 the online Nature Medicine magazine published the letter "Langerin is a natural barrier to HIV-1 transmission by Langerhans cells."[11] One of the authors of the study, Teunis Geijtenbeek, said that "Langerin is able to scavenge viruses from the surrounding environment, thereby preventing infection" and "since generally all tissues on the outside of our bodies have Langerhans cells, we think that the human body is equipped with an antiviral defense mechanism, destroying incoming viruses."[12]
See also
References
- ↑
Masci A, Arighi CN, Diehl AD, Lieberman AE, Mungall C, Scheuermann RH, Smith B, Cowell LG. An improved ontological representation of dendritic cells as a paradigm for all cell types. BMC Bioinformatics. 2009; 10(70) PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ↑ a b
Young B, Heath JW (2000): Wheater's Functional Histology. Edition: 4. Churchill Livingstone. P. 162. ISBN 0-443-05612-9.
- ↑ a b Hussain LA, Lehner T. Comparative investigation of Langerhans' cells and potential receptors for HIV in oral, genitourinary and rectal epithelia. Immunology. July 1995; 85(3): 475-484. PMID. PMC. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ↑ Langerhans P. Über die Nerven der menschlichen Haut [On the nerves of the human skin] (German). Archiv für Pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für Klinische Medicin. 1868; 44(2-3): 325-337. DOI. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ↑
McKusick, Victor A (20 April 2000). Langerhans cell histiocytosis
, OMIM. Retrieved 20 October 2019. - ↑ Ginhoux F, Tacke F, Angeli V, Bogunovic M, Loubeau M, Dai XM, Stanley ER, Randolph GJ, Merad M. Langerhans cells arise from monocytes in vivo. Nature Immunology. 26 January 2016; 7(3): 265-273. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ↑ Valladeau J, Dezutter-Dambuyant C, Saeland S. Langerin/CD207 Sheds Light on Formation of Birbeck Granules and Their Possible Function in Langerhans Cells. Immunologic Research. October 2003; 28(2): 93-107. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ↑ Poulin LF, Henri S, de Bovis B, Devilard E, Kissenpfennig A, Malissen B. The dermis contains langerin+ dendritic cells that develop and function independently of epidermal Langerhans cells. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 24 December 2007; 204(13): 3119-3131. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ↑ Kawamura T, Kurtz SE, Blauvelt A, Shimada S. The role of Langerhans cells in the sexual transmission of HIV. Journal of Dermatological Science. December 2005; 40(3): 147-155. PMID. DOI.
- ↑ Dezutter-Dambuyant C, Charbonnier AS, Schmitt D. Cellules dendritiques épithéliales et infection par HIV-1 in vivo et in vitro [Epithelial dendritic cells and HIV-1 infection in vivo and in vitro] (French). Pathologie Biologie. December 1995; 43(10): 882-888. PMID. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ↑ De Witte L, Nabatov A, Pion M, Fluitsma D, De Jong MAWP, De Gruijl T, Piguet V, Van Kooyk Y, Geijtenbeek TBH. Langerin is a natural barrier to HIV-1 transmission by Langerhans cells. Nature Medicine. 4 March 2007; 13(3): 367-371. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ↑
Mundell, E. J. (5 March 2007)."Scientists Discover 'Natural Barrier' to HIV", HealthDay, MSN. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
