Immunogold labelling of epidermal Langerhans cells on tissue sections of normal human skin

A colloidal gold staining procedure was developed for immuno-electron microscopy, which allowed the demonstration of T6 surface antigens of epidermal Langerhans cells on sections of normal human skin with consistent ultrastructural preservation of subcellular structures. All the observed Birbeck granule-bearing Langerhans cells revealed immunogold labelling along the plasma membrane. The penetration of the tissue by the gold particles was adequate, as was the sensitivity and the specificity of the reaction. A major advantage of the present method in comparison with immunoperoxidase techniques is the absence of non-specific staining of the membranes of keratinocytes facing the labelled plasma membrane of the Langerhans cells.