SummaryIt has been suggested that epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) bearing immunoglobulin E (IgE) may be involved in the genesis of atopic disease. The identity of the IgE receptor(s) on LC remained unclear, although it represents a crucial point in understanding cellular events linked to the binding of allergens to LC via IgE. In this report, we demonstrate that epidermal LC express the high affinity receptor for the Fc fragment of IgE (FceRI) which has, so far, only been described on mast cells and basophils. Epidermal LC react with antibodies specific for the u subunit of the tetrameric (oL,~,23') FceRI. Specific transcripts for Fc~RIo~ and FceRI3~ were detected in LC and correspond to those of human basophils and of the human basophil cell line KU812. Furthermore, human basophils, KU812 cells, and LC express the putative B subunit. Thus human LC express the complete structure of FceRI. This finding opens new perspectives in the putative functional role of this structure on antigen-presenting cells.T he demonstration of IgE molecules on epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) 1 in patients with atopic dermatitis has implied that these cells should perform a major function in the pathophysiology of atopic disease (1, 2). Although initially, only receptors for the Fc fragment of IgG were identified on epidermal LC (3, 4), the low affinity receptor for IgE FceRII/CD23 (5) and the human IgE binding protein (eBP) (6) have now also been found on these cells in lesional, as well as in normal skin. However, attempts to completely block IgE binding on LC by a variety of anti-FceRII/CD23, antieBP, and/or anti-Fc3,R reagents remained unsuccessful, suggesting the presence of a third IgE-binding structure actually responsible for a part of the IgE-binding capacity of LC. We report here, that normal human LC also express the high a~nity receptor for IgE, Fcelkl, demonstrating that the presence of this structure is not restricted to mast cells and basophils. Our results also document the presence of the putative/~ chain on both human basophils and LC.