A Strikingly Constant Ratio Exists Between Langerhans Cells and Other Epidermal Cells in Human Skin. A Stereologic Study Using the Optical Disector Method and the Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope11Presented in part at the International Investigative Dermatology 1998, Cologne, Germany 1998.

Abstract

Langerhans cells play an important part in the immune surveillance of the human epidermis. Therefore, a certain distribution and numerical relationship to other epidermal cells can be expected. To quantify epidermal Langerhans cells population extensive studies have been performed using two-dimensional quantification methods on vertical sections or epidermal sheet preparations. Whereas methods using vertical sections were complicated considerably by the sampling procedure, the dendritic shape, and the suprabasal, nonrandom distribution of Langerhans cells, epidermal sheet preparations have their limitations regarding the numerical relationship of Langerhans cells to total epidermal cells and the epidermal morphology as such. In order to improve the validity of data the three-dimensional dissector method combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy has been applied to quantify the number of Langerhans cells and other epidermal cell nuclei per volume unit in cryosections of 24 punch biopsies of normal breast skin of eight women. Furthermore, the ratio of Langerhans cells to other epidermal cells, their number per biopsy, and per skin surface area were calculated. To minimize the bias by shrinkage the reference volume was estimated using Cavalieri's principle. A constant ratio of one Langerhans cells to 53 other epidermal cells was identified in breast skin (interindividual correlation coefficient: 0.952, p < 0.0001). Thus, Langerhans cells represent 1.86% of all epidermal cells; however, a wide interindividual range was found for the number of Langerhans cells per mm2 (912-1806; mean +/- SD 1394 +/- 321) and other epidermal cells per mm2 (47,315-104,588; mean +/- SD 73,952 +/- 19,426). This explains the conflicting results achieved by conventional morphometric assessments relating cell numbers to skin surface area, ignoring the varying thickness of the epidermis. The surprisingly constant relationship of Langerhans cells to other epidermal cells stresses the hypothesis of an epidermal Langerhans cells unit where one Langerhans cells seems to be responsible for the immune surveillance of 53 epidermal cells.

Increased DC trafficking to lymph nodes and contact hypersensitivity in junctional adhesion molecule-A–deficient mice

“…LC numbers were determined by counting MHC class II-positive cells with recognizable stellate morphology and normalizing for the number of basal keratinocytes; data are expressed as mean number of LCs/100 keratinocytes (41).…”

CCL19 as an adjuvant for intradermal gene gun immunization in a Her2/neu mouse tumor model: improved vaccine efficacy and a role for B cells as APC

“…8,31 It is generally believed that DNA-coated gold particles target APC in the upper layer of the skin where they exist at a very high density. 4,5,[32][33][34][35] Furthermore, local injury by gene gun particle bombardment may induce a local inflammatory environment supporting DC maturation and subsequent T-cell activation. 4,5,[36][37][38] Unexpectedly, after gene gun application, Her2/ neu peptide-specific CD8 þ g-IFN T-cell responses were lower after coadministration of CCL19, despite better tumor protection compared with Her2/neu alone.…”

Self-Dissolving Micropile Array Chip as Percutaneous Delivery System of Protein Drug

“…Thereafter, the SDMA chip was removed and we confirmed that there were no wounds on the skin. Bauer et al 33) performed safety studies using stainless steel microneedle arrays in human skin, where transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and redness values were measured. Assembled microneedle arrays induced higher TEWL values than solid microneedle arrays, while resulting in less skin irritation lasting Ͻ2 h. Even in the case of metal microneedles, safety was confirmed and we may state that SDMA is safer than metal microneedles.…”