[Immunohistochemical studies in fungal diseases of skin]

The aim of the present work was to characterize the infiltrating cells in fungal diseases of the skin by using immunohistochemical methods. The lesions of superficial mycosis were characterized by a increase in the number of Langerhans cells (OKT6, HLADR+). In the upper dermis more OKT4 cells stained than OKT8, and in the deeper dermis the was a more decreased ratio of OKT4+/OKT8+ cells. On the other hand, the granulomatous reactions of deep mycosis mainly consisted of cells that were labeled positively for lysozyme and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin. In cases with secondary or local immunodeficiency, however, the infiltrating cells wer negative for these enzymes.