An Immunocytochemical Study of MHC Class I Expression on Human Langerhans Cells and Melanocytes

Moseley, R; Brown, James; Auld, John; Mumtaz, Hamid; Rainey, Andrew J.; Kirkham, N.; Gelsthorpe, K.; Masters, R.C.; Smith, Mark E.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199704)181:4<419::aid-path796>3.0.co;2-w

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…In contrast, PNM melanocytes displayed no HLA-A/B/C immunoreactivity (Fig 3I). This reflects the situation in the (MHC class I-negative) human hair follicle matrix (Moseley et al, 1997;Ito et al, 2004) and further supports the notion that the human nail matrix is a site of relative immune privilege.…”

Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 79%

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Immunology of the Human Nail Apparatus: The Nail Matrix Is a Site of Relative Immune Privilege

Ito

Saathoff

et al. 2005

Journal of Investigative Dermatology

132

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The nail apparatus is constantly exposed to environmental damage. It requires effective immune responses to combat infection, while avoiding the loss of nail production and regeneration by autoaggressive immunity. By immunohistology, we define here previously unknown characteristics of the normal human nail immune system (NIS). Compared with other regions of nail epithelium, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A/B/C expression is prominently down regulated on both keratinocytes and melanocytes of the proximal nail matrix (PNM), whereas HLA-G(+) is upregulated here. Together with the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in PNM, this may serve to inhibit an natural killer (NK) cell attack on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ia-negative PNM. PNM also displays strong immunoreactivity for potent, locally generated immunosuppressants such as transforming growth factor-beta1, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, and adrenocorticotropic hormone, exhibits unusually few CD1a(+), CD4(+), or CD8(+), NK, and mast cells. Finally, MHC class II and CD 209 expression on CD1a(+) cells in and around the PNM is reduced, indicating diminished antigen-presenting capacity. Thus, the NIS strikingly differs from the skin immune system, but shows intriguing similarities to the hair follicle immune system, including the establishment of an area of relative immune privilege in the PNM. This nail immune privilege may offer a relative safeguard against autoimmunity. But, the localized intraepithelial defect of innate and adaptive immunity in the PNM revealed here also may impede effective anti-infection defense.

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Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 79%

“…As melanocytes of the human pigmentary unit (Tobin and Paus, 2001) show deficient classical MHC class I expression (Moseley et al, 1997, Ito et al, 2004, we investigated the HLA-A/ B/C expression on melanocytes in nail matrix. Melanocytes in the PNF and nail bed were strongly HLA-A/B/C þ (Fig 3G, H).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Immunology of the Human Nail Apparatus: The Nail Matrix Is a Site of Relative Immune Privilege

Ito

Saathoff

et al. 2005

Journal of Investigative Dermatology

132

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“…This is also seen in rat [27] and murine anagen hair bulbs [26,39] (Figure 1). † Melanocytes of the hair follicle pigmentary unit of human anagen scalp hair follicles are MHC I negative [36,66]. † Relative MHC Ia negativity of the anagen hair bulb correlates well with a downregulation of the MHC I pathway-related molecules b2-microglobulin and transporter of antigen processing-2, implying that the few MHC I molecules still expressed are likely to form unstable, functionally impaired antigen-presenting complexes [28,37,43].…”

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confidence: 99%

“…† MHC II C or NLDC-145 C Langerhans cells are essentially absent in the murine anagen hair bulb [34,39]. Very few CD1a C or ultrastructurally identified Langerhans cells can be detected in the human anagen hair bulb; these Langerhans cells must be functionally impaired because they do not express MHC II [36,66]. † Contrary to epidermis, sebaceous gland and the rest of the hair follicle epithelium, the anagen hair bulb is almost devoid of intraepithelial T cells: in humans, CD4 C or CD8 C T cells are extremely rare here [36], whereas in mice no gd K TCR C lymphocytes are found here at all [39,67].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A ?hairy? privilege

Paus

Nickoloff

Ito

2005

Trends in Immunology

288

393

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“…In contrast to in vitro studies, Moseley et al 50 concluded, from examining the pilosebaceous adnexal unit, which is low in keratinocyte MHC class I expression, that melanocytes do not constitutively express MHC class I in vivo. This would not appear to be exceptional, in that many other cell types, including central nervous system neurones, do not express MHC class I.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Vitiligo melanocytes in long-term culture show normal constitutive and cytokine-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and major histocompatibility complex class I and class II molecules

Hedley

Metcalfe

Gawkrodger

et al. 1998

British Journal of Dermatology

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The aetiology of vitiligo remains unclear. An autoimmune involvement has been suggested and, in this study, we examine whether melanocytes cultured from unaffected regions of the skin of vitiligo patients are more susceptible to immune attack by investigating constitutive and cytokine-stimulated expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) (under three media variants) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II (under one medium). Both normal and vitiligo melanocytes had similarly low constitutive expression of ICAM-1 and MHC class II molecules, whereas > 95% of cells had high constitutive expression of MHC class I. Normal and vitiligo melanocytes showed similar and significant increases in the expression of all three immune-related molecules in response to the cytokine, interferon-gamma. The expression of ICAM-1 was also similarly increased by the cytokine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha in both cells. Additionally, it was noted that, once the melanocyte cultures were established under experimental conditions, the rate of proliferation of vitiligo melanocytes did not differ significantly from that of normal melanocytes. In conclusion, we suggest that vitiligo melanocytes, once in culture, do not have intrinsic differences from normal melanocytes with respect to the expression of immune-related molecules.

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An Immunocytochemical Study of MHC Class I Expression on Human Langerhans Cells and Melanocytes

Cited by 14 publications

References 56 publications

Immunology of the Human Nail Apparatus: The Nail Matrix Is a Site of Relative Immune Privilege

Immunology of the Human Nail Apparatus: The Nail Matrix Is a Site of Relative Immune Privilege

A ?hairy? privilege

Vitiligo melanocytes in long-term culture show normal constitutive and cytokine-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and major histocompatibility complex class I and class II molecules

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