Biomaterial Database

Ratio of Langerhans cells to Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells in murine epidermis influences the intensity of contact hypersensitivity. 1987

M Bigby, and T Kwan, and M S Sy

Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.

We have initiated a series of studies in vivo to investigate the physiologic role of Langerhans cells and Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells in the development and regulation of contact hypersensitivity. The density of I-A+ Langerhans cells and Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells in ammonium thiocyanate-separated epidermal sheets was determined in ten strains of inbred mice using immunofluorescence microscopy with monoclonal anti-I-A and anti-Thy-1 antibodies. Mice of different inbred strains were sensitized by painting the left ear with varying doses of either oxazolone or trinitrochlorobenzene. From five to 20 days after sensitization, groups of mice were challenged with the relevant antigen and the intensity of contact hypersensitivity, as measured by ear swelling, was determined. We then determined whether the intensity and/or duration of contact hypersensitivity in different strains of mice was influenced by the density of Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells or the ratio of I-A+ Langerhans cells to Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells. We found that there was marked variability in the density of Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells and I-A+ Langerhans cells in the ten strains of mice studied. The ratio of I-A+ Langerhans cells to Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells ranged from 0.5 in C57BL/10J mice to greater than 22 in A/J and BALB/cByJ mice. When small amounts of contact sensitizers were used to induce contact hypersensitivity (e.g., 20 micrograms of oxazolone or trinitrochlorobenzene), there was consistent strain variability in the intensity of ear swelling. There was a significant correlation between the ratio of I-A+ Langerhans cells to Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells and the intensity of contact hypersensitivity (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.85, p = 0.002). Strains with the highest ratios of I-A+ Langerhans cells to Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells had the most ear swelling. There were no consistent differences in the duration of contact hypersensitivity observed among the ten different strains. Our results indicate that Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells may play a physiologic role in down-regulating contact hypersensitivity in vivo.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007801	Langerhans Cells	Recirculating, dendritic, antigen-presenting cells containing characteristic racket-shaped granules (Birbeck granules). They are found principally in the stratum spinosum of the EPIDERMIS and are rich in Class II MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX molecules. Langerhans cells were the first dendritic cell to be described and have been a model of study for other dendritic cells (DCs), especially other migrating DCs such as dermal DCs and INTERSTITIAL DENDRITIC CELLS.	Langerhans Cell,Dendritic Cells, Dermal,Dendritic Cells, Epidermal,Dendritic Cells, Skin,Dermal Dendritic Cells,Epidermal Dendritic Cells,Skin Dendritic Cells,Cell, Dermal Dendritic,Cell, Epidermal Dendritic,Cell, Langerhans,Cell, Skin Dendritic,Cells, Dermal Dendritic,Cells, Epidermal Dendritic,Cells, Langerhans,Cells, Skin Dendritic,Dendritic Cell, Dermal,Dendritic Cell, Epidermal,Dendritic Cell, Skin,Dermal Dendritic Cell,Epidermal Dendritic Cell,Skin Dendritic Cell
D008297	Male		Males
D008815	Mice, Inbred Strains	Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations, or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. All animals within an inbred strain trace back to a common ancestor in the twentieth generation.	Inbred Mouse Strains,Inbred Strain of Mice,Inbred Strain of Mouse,Inbred Strains of Mice,Mouse, Inbred Strain,Inbred Mouse Strain,Mouse Inbred Strain,Mouse Inbred Strains,Mouse Strain, Inbred,Mouse Strains, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Mouse,Strains, Inbred Mouse
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D003713	Dendritic Cells	Specialized cells of the hematopoietic system that have branch-like extensions. They are found throughout the lymphatic system, and in non-lymphoid tissues such as SKIN and the epithelia of the intestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts. They trap and process ANTIGENS, and present them to T-CELLS, thereby stimulating CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY. They are different from the non-hematopoietic FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC CELLS, which have a similar morphology and immune system function, but with respect to humoral immunity (ANTIBODY PRODUCTION).	Dendritic Cells, Interdigitating,Interdigitating Cells,Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells,Veiled Cells,Dendritic Cells, Interstitial,Dendritic Cells, Plasmacytoid,Interdigitating Dendritic Cells,Interstitial Dendritic Cells,Cell, Dendritic,Cell, Interdigitating,Cell, Interdigitating Dendritic,Cell, Interstitial Dendritic,Cell, Plasmacytoid Dendritic,Cell, Veiled,Cells, Dendritic,Cells, Interdigitating,Cells, Interdigitating Dendritic,Cells, Interstitial Dendritic,Cells, Plasmacytoid Dendritic,Cells, Veiled,Dendritic Cell,Dendritic Cell, Interdigitating,Dendritic Cell, Interstitial,Dendritic Cell, Plasmacytoid,Interdigitating Cell,Interdigitating Dendritic Cell,Interstitial Dendritic Cell,Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell,Veiled Cell
D003877	Dermatitis, Contact	A type of acute or chronic skin reaction in which sensitivity is manifested by reactivity to materials or substances coming in contact with the skin. It may involve allergic or non-allergic mechanisms.	Contact Dermatitis,Dermatitis Venenata,Eczema, Contact,Hypersensitivity, Contact,Sensitivity, Contact,Contact Dermatitides,Contact Eczema,Contact Hypersensitivities,Contact Hypersensitivity,Contact Sensitivities,Contact Sensitivity,Dermatitides, Contact,Hypersensitivities, Contact,Sensitivities, Contact
D004817	Epidermis	The external, nonvascular layer of the skin. It is made up, from within outward, of five layers of EPITHELIUM: (1) basal layer (stratum basale epidermidis); (2) spinous layer (stratum spinosum epidermidis); (3) granular layer (stratum granulosum epidermidis); (4) clear layer (stratum lucidum epidermidis); and (5) horny layer (stratum corneum epidermidis).
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000949	Histocompatibility Antigens Class II	Large, transmembrane, non-covalently linked glycoproteins (alpha and beta). Both chains can be polymorphic although there is more structural variation in the beta chains. The class II antigens in humans are called HLA-D ANTIGENS and are coded by a gene on chromosome 6. In mice, two genes named IA and IE on chromosome 17 code for the H-2 antigens. The antigens are found on B-lymphocytes, macrophages, epidermal cells, and sperm and are thought to mediate the competence of and cellular cooperation in the immune response. The term IA antigens used to refer only to the proteins encoded by the IA genes in the mouse, but is now used as a generic term for any class II histocompatibility antigen.	Antigens, Immune Response,Class II Antigens,Class II Histocompatibility Antigen,Class II Major Histocompatibility Antigen,Ia Antigens,Ia-Like Antigen,Ia-Like Antigens,Immune Response Antigens,Immune-Associated Antigens,Immune-Response-Associated Antigens,MHC Class II Molecule,MHC II Peptide,Class II Antigen,Class II Histocompatibility Antigens,Class II MHC Proteins,Class II Major Histocompatibility Antigens,Class II Major Histocompatibility Molecules,I-A Antigen,I-A-Antigen,IA Antigen,MHC Class II Molecules,MHC II Peptides,MHC-II Molecules,Antigen, Class II,Antigen, I-A,Antigen, IA,Antigen, Ia-Like,Antigens, Class II,Antigens, Ia,Antigens, Ia-Like,Antigens, Immune-Associated,Antigens, Immune-Response-Associated,I A Antigen,II Peptide, MHC,Ia Like Antigen,Ia Like Antigens,Immune Associated Antigens,Immune Response Associated Antigens,MHC II Molecules,Molecules, MHC-II,Peptide, MHC II,Peptides, MHC II