Langerhans cells (CD1a and CD207), dermal dendrocytes (FXIIIa) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (CD123) in skin lesions of leprosy patients

Advances in the Immunology and Genetics of Leprosy

“…Langerhans cells (LCs) are resident DCs located in the epidermis, which express the lipid-presenting molecules, CD1a and CD207 (Langerin). A number of studies have shown similar results, indicating that the number of LCs in the epidermis of T-lep lesions was significantly larger than in L-lep lesions (28,29,31). Since LCs gathered antigens and drove T cell responses through antigen presentation in the draining lymph node (35), these findings are consistent with the fact that cellmediated immune responses dominate in T-lep, whereas L-lep is characterized by a humoral immune response.…”

“…Plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), which express CD123 and dermal dendrocytes (DDs) characterized by the FXIIIa marker were studied in polar forms of leprosy. Similar to LCs, the presence of a relatively large number of pDCs and DDs was observed in T-lep lesions, but much fewer of these DCs were found in L-lep lesions (29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). The expression of CD123 marker was also evaluated in T1R and corresponding BL and LL lesions.…”

Leprosy As a Complex Infection: Breakdown of the Th1 and Th2 Immune Paradigm in the Immunopathogenesis of the Disease

“…With respect to the dendritic cell response, more recent studies have identified a variety of cell subtypes that modulate the initial construction of the immune response in the polar forms of the disease ( 32 – 34 ). In this context, the presence of the dendritic cells of the epidermis (CD1a+) and langerin (CD207+) show particularly increased expression in the tuberculoid form.…”

“…In this context, the presence of the dendritic cells of the epidermis (CD1a+) and langerin (CD207+) show particularly increased expression in the tuberculoid form. With respect to the inflammatory infiltrate, the immunostaining of dermal dendrocytes (FXIIIA+) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (CD123+) was predominantly detected near the vessels and granulomas in the tuberculoid form ( 34 ). These findings demonstrated that the presence of dendritic cells in the epidermis or areas close to the infiltrate participate in the development of an effective immune response against M .…”

“…These findings demonstrated that the presence of dendritic cells in the epidermis or areas close to the infiltrate participate in the development of an effective immune response against M . leprae ( 34 ).…”