TY - JOUR
T1 - HLA-D region antigen expression by human epidermal langerhans cells
AU - Sontheimer, Richard D.
AU - Stastny, Peter
AU - Nũnez, Gabriel
N1 - Funding Information:
It was this observation that stimulated a series of studies I vvhich resulted in the demonstration that this epidermal cell type was capable of presenting both allo and nominal anti-gens. However, over the past several years we have come to learn that the human HLA-D region is quite complex Pl. The HLA-D region, which is present on the short arm of the human sixth chroITlosome, is now known to consist of 3 genetically distinct subregions: HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP. The best-stud-ied o f these, the HLA-DR subregion, codes for cell surface gly-coprote in antigens that are structurall y homologous to the murine I-E antigens and are known to carry the main determinants that trigger the primary mixed lymphocyte reaction. DR antigens are composed of 2 noncovalently associated subunits, a heavy in-varia nt a-chain and a lighter, polymorphic ,8-chain. The complex polYITlorphism in the amino acid sequences of the multiple DR ,8-ch a in gene products accounts for the allelic variation of the DR antigen system that had been previously known to exist from genetic analyses. Numerous studies have shown that human ELC constitutively express HLA-DR molecules, but little is known about the expression of the other HLA-D region molecules by this cell type. In addition, several workers have suggested that M anuscript received December 2, 1985; accepted for publication June 17, 1986. Supported by National Institutes of Health grants AM1 9101, AI1 7363. and AI21278. *Current address: Department of Pathology, Barnes Hospital, Barnes Hospital Plaza, St. Louis. Missouri 67110. Reprint requests to: Richard D. Sontheimcr, M.D., Department of Dermatology, UTHSCD/SWMS, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75235. Abbre viations: ELC: epidermal Langerhans cell(s) FITC: fluorescein isothiocyanate IIF: indirect immunofluorescence PBS: phosphate-buffered saline T RITC: tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate
PY - 1986/12
Y1 - 1986/12
N2 - We have systematically examined HLA-D region antigen expression by normal human epidermal Langerhans cells with an improved double label indirect immunofluorescence technique in order to better understand the immunologic potential of this human interstitial dendritic cell type. The results of this study which differ somewhat from earlier observations strongly suggest that 100% of OKT-6-positive epidermal Langerhans cells constitutively express HLA-DQ and HLA-DP as well as HLA-DR molecules. Since HLA-DQ expression has been positively correlated with the ability to present nominal antigen, our findings would suggest the possibility that epidermal Langerhans cells, like other members of the human dendritic cell series, might be more efficient than monocytes at nominal antigen presentation since only about 50% of peripheral blood monocytes express HLA-DQ molecules.
AB - We have systematically examined HLA-D region antigen expression by normal human epidermal Langerhans cells with an improved double label indirect immunofluorescence technique in order to better understand the immunologic potential of this human interstitial dendritic cell type. The results of this study which differ somewhat from earlier observations strongly suggest that 100% of OKT-6-positive epidermal Langerhans cells constitutively express HLA-DQ and HLA-DP as well as HLA-DR molecules. Since HLA-DQ expression has been positively correlated with the ability to present nominal antigen, our findings would suggest the possibility that epidermal Langerhans cells, like other members of the human dendritic cell series, might be more efficient than monocytes at nominal antigen presentation since only about 50% of peripheral blood monocytes express HLA-DQ molecules.
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U2 - 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12456670
DO - 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12456670
M3 - Article
C2 - 3537146
AN - SCOPUS:0023039026
SN - 0022-202X
VL - 87
SP - 707
EP - 710
JO - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
JF - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
IS - 6
ER -