The Organization of the Communication Routes between the Epithelium and Lamina Propria Mucosae in the Human Esophagus.

Abstract

Morphological studies examined communication routes between the epithelium and lamina propria mucosae in the human esophagus, using a series of techniques including silver staining, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For SEM, tissue blocks were treated with either osmium/ultrasonication or NaOH. Observations showed the esophageal papillae to be arranged regularly in a mostly longitudinal row. The reticular fibers, consisting of fibrils approximately 40 nm in diameter, were situated just beneath the epithelial basal lamina. They showed a positive reaction with a type III collagen antibody, and formed a continuous sheet 2-3 microm thick with dense networks. This sheet as well as the epithelial basal lamina had numerous foramina of diameters of 3-5 microm. Immune cells such as lymphocytes and Langerhans cells were situated around these foramina. The foramina were situated both around papillae and the duct orifice of the esophageal gland. In addition, lymphoid follicles surrounded the duct of the esophageal gland. The structural characteristics around the duct appear to be those of duct-associated lymphoid tissue (DALT). Thus, these foramina in the epithelial basal lamina and reticular fiber sheet may represent important communication routes between the epithelium and lamina propria mucosae. In addition, they may play an important role in the mucosal immune response in the human esophagus.

Distribution of Langerhans Cells in the Human Esophagus, as Revealed by Immunohistochemistry

“…The present TEM study also confirmed that the esophageal Langerhans cells occurred within the epithelium [8]. On the other hand, immunohistochemical studies already illustrated that the human epidermal Langerhans cells were more positive for anti-S-100 protein, anti-MHC-Class II protein, anti-CD54, anti-CD80, anti-CD 86, and anti-CD40 [2,4]. In the present study, only anti-S-100 protein antibody was used to identify Langerhans cells.…”

“…On the other hand, transmission electron microscopic observation of the human esophagus demonstrated that Langerhans cells were also present within the stratified squamous epithelium [4]. The ultrastructure of Langerhans cells in the human esophagus was clearly identical with that of the human skin [8].…”

“…Immunohistochemically, many immunopositive cells for CD4 or CD8 are found within the epithelium as well as in the lamina propria mucosae in the human esophagus [4]. On the other hand, transmission electron microscopic observation of the human esophagus demonstrated that Langerhans cells were also present within the stratified squamous epithelium [4].…”

The impact of adjuvant therapies on patient survival and the recurrence patterns for resected stage IIa–IVa lower thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…EC is characterised by bidirectional and skipping LNM, mainly due to the longitudinally mucosal and submucosal lymphatic drainage [ 34 – 37 ]. Collateral vessels of lymph nodes were found because of the close topographical relationship between the afferent and efferent [ 38 ], which should be another reason for the skipping LNM.…”

Involvement of Brown Adipose Tissue in Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis of the Newborn

“…Overnight incubation at 4°C with antibodies (Mab), diluted 100-fold with phosphate-buffered saline, was followed by incubation for 2 h at room temperature with 5-nm gold-labeled goat antibodies against rabbit lgG (British BioCell International, Cardiff, UK). Finally, sections were immersed in developer for 28 min in darkness and then counterstained with Nuclear Fast Red (Kernechtrot) [8]. Sections from case 2 were also fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4), postfixed in 1% osmic acid in the same buffer, dehydrated, and embedded in Epon 812 by standard methods.…”