[The effect of suturing on Langerhans' cells of the ocular surface]

Langerhans' cells (LC) exist on the ocular epithelial surface and participate in immunologic and non-immunologic reactions. On the corneal surface, LC are distributed in the limbal area, but not in central cornea. Placement of a suture in central cornea induced increase of LC and their migration to central cornea, only to diminish after removal of the suture, indicating participation of LC in non-immunological reactions of the corneal surface. The role of LC in immunologic reactions was also discussed.