Macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are key components of cellular immunity and are thought to originate and renew from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, some macrophages develop in the ...embryo before the appearance of definitive HSCs. We thus reinvestigated macrophage development. We found that the transcription factor Myb was required for development of HSCs and all CD11b high monocytes and macrophages, but was dispensable for yolk sac (YS) macrophages and for the development of YS-derived F4/80 bright macrophages in several tissues, such as liver Kupffer cells, epidermal Langerhans cells, and microglia— cell populations that all can persist in adult mice independently of HSCs. These results define a lineage of tissue macrophages that derive from the YS and are genetically distinct from HSC progeny.
In the last few decades, our understanding of Langerhans cells (LCs) has drastically changed based on novel findings regarding the developmental origin and biological functions of these ...epidermis-specific resident immune cells. It has become clear that LCs not only exert pivotal roles in immune surveillance and homeostasis but also impact on pathology by either inducing tolerance or mediating inflammation. Their unique capabilities to self-renew within the epidermis, while also being able to migrate to lymph nodes in order to present antigen, place LCs in a key position to sample the local environment and decide on the appropriate cutaneous immune response. Exciting new data distinguishing LCs from Langerin
dermal dendritic cells (DCs) on a functional and ontogenic level reveal crucial roles for LCs in trauma and various skin pathologies, which will be thoroughly discussed here. However, despite rapid progress in the field, the exact role of LCs during immune responses has not been completely elucidated. This review focuses on what mouse models that have been developed in order to enable the study of murine LCs and other Langerin-expressing DCs have taught us about LC development and function.
Background The clarification of cutaneous dendritic cell subset and the role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) signaling in epicutaneous sensitization with protein antigens, as in the ...development of atopic dermatitis, is a crucial issue. Objectives Because TSLP is highly expressed in the vicinity of Langerhans cells (LCs), we sought to clarify our hypothesis that LCs play an essential role in epicutaneous sensitization with protein antigens through TSLP signaling. Methods By using Langerin-diphtheria toxin receptor knock-in mice and human Langerin-diphtheria toxin A transgenic mice, we prepared mice deficient in LCs. We also prepared mice deficient in TSLP receptors in LCs by using TSLP receptor–deficient mice with bone marrow chimeric technique. We applied these mice to an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced epicutaneous sensitization model. Results Upon the epicutaneous application of OVA, conditional LC depletion attenuated the development of clinical manifestations as well as serum OVA-specific IgE increase, OVA-specific T-cell proliferation, and IL-4 mRNA expression in the draining lymph nodes. Consistently, even in the steady state, permanent LC depletion resulted in decreased serum IgE levels, suggesting that LCs mediate the TH 2 local environment. In addition, mice deficient in TSLP receptors on LCs abrogated the induction of OVA-specific IgE levels upon epicutaneous OVA sensitization. Conclusion LCs initiate epicutaneous sensitization with protein antigens and induce TH 2-type immune responses via TSLP signaling.
Purpose
The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CT-guided corticosteroid injection for the treatment of osseous Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in a ...multi-institutional study.
Materials and methods
This IRB-approved study included patients from three institutions. We retrospectively reviewed clinical, procedural, and imaging data for corticosteroid injections performed to treat osseous LCH. Location of the lesion, lesion maximum dimension and volume, corticosteroid type and dose, and time interval between injection and change in lesion size/volume and symptoms were recorded. Generalized estimating equations (accounting for multiple lesions per subject) were used to evaluate the association between predictors (dose, maximum lesion dimension, and lesion volume) and outcomes (time to partial and complete radiographic resolution, and time to pain control). This analysis was adjusted by anatomic site.
Results
Forty corticosteroid injections were performed in 36 patients (20 (56%) females, and 16 (44%) males, ages 12 ± 11 (2–57) years). Mean lesion maximum dimension was 3.2 ± 1.7 cm, and volume was 10 ± 17 cm
3
. Imaging and clinical follow-up were available for 22/40 (55%) and 34/40 (85%) of injections, respectively. All lesions responded to corticosteroid injection. Times to partial and complete imaging resolution were 13 ± 9 and 32 ± 13 weeks, respectively, and time to pain resolution was 22 ± 14 weeks. There were no complications.
Conclusion
CT-guided corticosteroid injection is a safe and effective treatment for LCH. Pain resolution was achieved in all patients and imaging did not show progressive disease in any of the patients.
Langerhans cells (LCs) are professional Dendritic Cells (DCs) involved in immunoregulatory functions. At the skin level, LCs are immature. In response to tissue injuries, they migrate to regional ...Lymph Nodes (LNs), reaching a full maturation state. Then, they become effective antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that induce anti-cancer responses. Notably, melanoma patients present several DC alterations in the Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN), where primary antitumoral immunity is generated. LCs are the most represented DCs subset in melanoma SLNs and are expected to play a key role in the anti-melanoma response. With this paper, we aim to review the current knowledge and future perspectives regarding LCs and melanoma.
A systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA statement using the PubMed (MEDLINE) library from January 2004 to January 2024, searching for original studies discussing LC in melanoma.
The final synthesis included 15 articles. Several papers revealed significant LCs-melanoma interactions.
Melanoma immune escape mechanisms include SLN LC alterations, favoring LN metastasis arrival/homing and melanoma proliferation. The SLN LCs of melanoma patients are defective but not irreversibly, and their function may be restored by appropriate stimuli. Thus, LCs represent a promising target for future immunotherapeutic strategies and cancer vaccines.
A 72‐year‐old woman with no significant past medical history was admitted to the hospital for new‐onset of leukocytosis with neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, as well as a pruritic skin ...eruption. She was found to have acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with myelomonocytic differentiation. Her skin eruption consisted of widespread hemorrhagic crusted papules on the scalp and trunk. A skin biopsy was performed, which revealed a proliferation of mononuclear cells in the dermis with prominent epidermotropism and positive expression of CD1a and langerin (CD207), supporting a diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). LCH is an uncommon proliferative disorder of activated Langerhans cells, which generally presents in children. In adults, it is exceptionally infrequent. Associated malignancies and rare reports of AML developing in subsequent years after an initial presentation of LCH have been described. Here we present an unusual concurrent presentation of LCH and AML in an adult.
Cells of the immune system that reside in barrier epithelia provide a first line of defense against pathogens. Langerhans cells (LCs) and CD8(+) tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM cells) require ...active transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β) for epidermal residence. Here we found that integrins αvβ6 and αvβ8 were expressed in non-overlapping patterns by keratinocytes (KCs) and maintained the epidermal residence of LCs and TRM cells by activating latent TGF-β. Similarly, the residence of dendritic cells and TRM cells in the small intestine epithelium also required αvβ6. Treatment of the skin with ultraviolet irradiation decreased integrin expression on KCs and reduced the availability of active TGF-β, which resulted in LC migration. Our data demonstrated that regulated activation of TGF-β by stromal cells was able to directly control epithelial residence of cells of the immune system through a novel mechanism of intercellular communication.
Background The vitamin D metabolite 1,25(OH)2D3 (VitD3) is a potent immunosuppressive drug and, among others, is used for topical treatment of psoriasis. A proposed mechanism of VitD3-mediated ...suppression is priming of dendritic cells (DCs) to induce regulatory T (Treg) cells. Objective Currently, there is confusion about the phenotype of VitD3-induced Treg cells and the DC-derived molecules driving their development. We investigated Treg cell induction after VitD3 priming of 2 distinct skin DC subsets: Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal dendritic cells (DDCs). Methods LCs and DDCs primed with VitD3 were cocultured with allogeneic naive T cells. The phenotype and function of the DCs and induced T cells were analyzed. Results Both VitD3-primed DC subtypes induced T cells with regulatory activity. Unexpectedly, whereas the Treg cell populations generated by VitD3-primed LCs were CD25hi CD127lo forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3)–positive cells, which meet the criteria of classical inducible Treg cells, the T cells developing in response to VitD3-primed DDCs were Foxp3− TR 1 cells expressing IL-10. Inhibition experiments revealed that LC-derived TGF-β is a key factor in the induction of Foxp3+ Treg cells, whereas DDC-derived IL-10 is important for the induction of IL-10+ TR 1 cells. Conclusion Thus we report the novel finding that distinct but closely related DC subsets are differentially programmed by VitD3 to support development of either TGF-β–dependent Foxp3+ Treg cells or IL-10–dependent IL-10+ Treg cells.