Langerhans cell maturation is accompanied by induction of N‐cadherin and the transcriptional regulators of epithelial–mesenchymal transition ZEB1/2

• Published in: European journal of immunology 2014-02, Vol.44 (2), p.553-560
• Main Authors: Konradi, Sabine, Yasmin, Nighat, Haslwanter, Denise, Weber, Michele, Gesslbauer, Bernhard, Sixt, Michael, Strobl, Herbert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cadherins - genetics; Cadherins - metabolism; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Adhesion Molecules - genetics; Cell Adhesion Molecules - metabolism; Cell migration; Cell Movement - genetics; Cells, Cultured; Dendritic cells; Down-Regulation - genetics; Epidermis - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition - genetics; Epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Inflammation - genetics; Inflammation - metabolism; Langerhans cells; Langerhans Cells - metabolism; Maturation; Medical research; Monocytes - metabolism; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic - genetics; Up-Regulation - genetics; Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
• ISSN: 0014-2980; 1521-4141
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.201343681

Langerhans cells (LCs) are a unique subset of dendritic cells (DCs) that express epithelial adhesion molecules, allowing them to form contacts with epithelial cells and reside in epidermal/epithelial tissues. The dynamic regulation of epithelial adhesion plays a decisive role in the life cycle of LCs. It controls whether LCs remain immature and sessile within the epidermis or mature and egress to initiate immune responses. So far, the molecular machinery regulating epithelial adhesion molecules during LC maturation remains elusive. Here, we generated pure populations of immature human LCs in vitro to systematically probe for gene‐expression changes during LC maturation. LCs down‐regulate a set of epithelial genes including E‐cadherin, while they upregulate the mesenchymal marker N‐cadherin known to facilitate cell migration. In addition, N‐cadherin is constitutively expressed by monocyte‐derived DCs known to exhibit characteristics of both inflammatory‐type and interstitial/dermal DCs. Moreover, the transcription factors ZEB1 and ZEB2 (ZEB is zinc‐finger E‐box‐binding homeobox) are upregulated in migratory LCs. ZEB1 and ZEB2 have been shown to induce epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasive behavior in cancer cells undergoing metastasis. Our results provide the first hint that the molecular EMT machinery might facilitate LC mobilization. Moreover, our study suggests that N‐cadherin plays a role during DC migration.