Immunological markers of Langerhans´ cells in mycosis fungoides skin lesions

Abstract

The patterns of two immunological markers of epidermal Langerhans´ cells were compared in normal skin and mycosis fungoides (MF) skin lesions. A double-staining indirect immunofluorescence method was used. Cells suggestive of keratinocytes reacted with the anti-Ia antibodies in some cases of MF lesions, while no such pattern was seen with the thymocyte-antigen antibodies (OK T6). In other cases of MF, as in normal skin, the epidermal picture was mainly the same with the two markers. A great many of the dermal mononuclear cells in MF were reactive with the anti-Ia antibodies but only occasional dermal cells in MF and no dermal cells in normal skin stained with OK T6.