Langerhans cells: Mediators of immunity and tolerance

Langerhans cells provide the epidermis with a surveillance network that samples the external environment influencing the decision between immunity and tolerance. Langerhans cells are immature dendritic cells acquiring antigens from foreign invaders as well as damaged native tissue for display to the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology 2006, Vol.38 (10), p.1632-1636
Main Authors: Berger, Carole L., Vasquez, Juan Gabriel, Shofner, Joshua, Mariwalla, Kavita, Edelson, Richard L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Dendritic cells
Dendritic Cells - cytology
Dendritic Cells - immunology
Dendritic Cells - pathology
Epidermis - cytology
Epidermis - immunology
Epidermis - pathology
Humans
Immune Tolerance
Immunity
Langerhans cells
Langerhans Cells - cytology
Langerhans Cells - immunology
Langerhans Cells - pathology
Skin Diseases - immunology
Skin Diseases - pathology
Tolerance
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Langerhans cells provide the epidermis with a surveillance network that samples the external environment influencing the decision between immunity and tolerance. Langerhans cells are immature dendritic cells acquiring antigens from foreign invaders as well as damaged native tissue for display to the immune response. The current paradigm suggests that the state of maturity of Langerhans cells, defined by the display of molecules that provoke immune responses (histocompatibility, co-stimulators, adhesion and homing receptors), determines whether emigration of the Langerhans cell to lymph nodes signals immunity or tolerance. Other factors such as type of immunogen ingested, environmental danger signals and the level of cell death may also play a role in tipping the balance towards immunity or immunosuppression. As modulators of the immune response, Langerhans cells play a role in cutaneous autoimmunity in lupus and in cancers that have an affinity for the epidermis such as cutaneous T cell lymphoma.
ISSN:1357-2725
1878-5875
DOI:10.1016/j.biocel.2006.03.006