Human epidermal Langerhans cells induce cellular immune response to trichophytin in dermatophytosis

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Human epidermal cell suspensions were prepared from patients sensitized to trichophytin. The cells were 75% to 95% viable, and contained 2% to 6% Langerhans cells as judged by immunofluorescence staining with an anti-DR antiserum. T lymphocytes from the same patients were co-cultured with trichophytin, with or without epidermal cells or macrophages. Proliferative T-cell response to trichophytin was obtained in cultures containing epidermal cells or macrophages. Pretreatment of the epidermal cells with anti-DR antiserum abolished the response, but normal rabbit serum did not, indicating that HLA-DR positive Langerhans cells are able to induce the cellular immune response to trichophytin. These data indicate that Langerhans cells play an important role in dermatophytosis.

This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit: