Histiocytic subpopulations in the gastrointestinal tract: distribution and possible relationship to function

The distribution of specific histiocyte subsets within the human gastrointestinal tract has not been extensively characterized. Our goal was to immunohistochemically evaluate the distribution and location of CD1a-positive, CD68-positive, and Factor XIIIa (FXIIIa)-positive histiocyte subsets within the normal gastrointestinal tract and attempt to relate distribution to possible function. Twenty-nine samples of normal esophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel, and anus were routinely processed and immunohistochemically stained with antibodies to CD68, CD1a, and FXIIIa. The distribution and histologic location of histiocyte subsets were qualitatively analyzed. CD1a-positive cells were seen exclusively within anal and esophageal squamous mucosa. CD68 positive histiocytes were present in lamina propria and submucosa throughout the gastrointestinal tract and in Peyer patches. FXIIIa-positive histiocytes were also abundant in lamina propria and submucosa throughout the gastrointestinal tract, particularly around pericryptal sheaths and in parafollicular regions surrounding Peyer patches. Our results showed that there are distinct subpopulations of gastrointestinal histiocytes, and that distribution varies according to both cell type and site. Because Langerhans cells are epidermal antigen processing/presentation cells, their exclusive presence in squamous mucosa suggests an analogous function there. The prominence of both CD68 and FXIIIa-positive cells surrounding glandular pericryptal sheaths suggests that they are important to immune function at this mucosal interface and may play a role in communication between glands and lamina propria. In addition, the presence of specific histiocyte subsets within Peyer patches and para-follicular regions suggests that they are involved in different aspects of antigen processing associated with gut lymphoid tissue. Further studies are needed to explore the relation between specific histiocyte subsets and gastrointestinal disease processes.