Epidermal Langerhans cells are derived from cells originating in bone marrow (original) (raw)

Nature volume 282, pages 324–326 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

Langerhans cells constitute a morphologically well characterised subpopulation (3–8%) of mammalian epidermal cells which, in contrast to the bulk of epidermal cells, bear Fc-IgG and C3 receptors1, express immune response-associated (Ia) antigens and function as antigen-presenting cells and allogeneic stimulatory cells to primed T lymphocytes2–5. The ontogeny of Langerhans cells has been a subject of considerable debate since their discovery6. Although some studies suggest that Langerhans cells are of mesenchymal as opposed to neural or melanocytic origin7, direct evidence for this has not been presented. In this study we demonstrate that, after 3 weeks, most of the Langerhans cells (LC) in parental skin which had been transplanted on to F1 hybrids were of recipient origin whereas keratinocytes remained of donor origin; this indicates that the LC are derived from a mobile pool of cells. Furthermore, in studies of skin from radiation-induced bone marrow chimaeric animals we found that, depending on the strain combination, up to 80% of the epidermal LC were derived from the bone marrow of the donor animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20205
    Stephen I. Katz, Kunihiko Tamaki & David H. Sachs
  2. Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20205
    David H. Sachs

Authors

  1. Stephen I. Katz
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  2. Kunihiko Tamaki
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  3. David H. Sachs
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Katz, S., Tamaki, K. & Sachs, D. Epidermal Langerhans cells are derived from cells originating in bone marrow.Nature 282, 324–326 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282324a0

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