Changes of Langerhans cells during skin ageing

During the process of skin ageing, changes occur in all skin layers and all cells, including the Langerhans cells.

To assess whether any quantitative difference in the number of CD1a⁺ LC cells/mm² and HLA-DR⁺ LC cells/mm² as well as in their morphological features can be observed during the course of different types of skin ageing.

The study was conducted in a group of 60 women, which was divided into three independent groups: group I with symptoms of menopausal skin ageing, group II with symptoms of photoageing, group III with symptoms of chronological ageing. Skin biopsy samples were taken from the pre-auricular region from all of the participants. The number of CD1a⁺ LC cells/mm² and HLA-DR⁺ LC cells/mm² as well as their morphological features were evaluated.

The frequency of CD1a⁺ LC and HLA-DR⁺ LC in all the studied groups was diverse. In groups I and III, the LC with large cell bodies and long, multi-branched processes were the majority. In group II, the LC had small cell bodies and their processes were mainly short and unbranched.

The obtained results indicate the presence of quantitative and morphological changes of the CD1a⁺ LC and HLA-DR⁺ LC during the course of different types of skin ageing.