Ultrastructural study of epidermal Langherhans cells in leprosy

ATPase staining and ultrastructural study of skin biopsies from six patients of leprosy (2TT, 4LL) and three normal subjects was carried out to study Langherhans Cells (LC). ATPase staining showed normal counts of LCs in tuberculoid patients, while significant reduction was observed in lepromatous cases. Electron microscopy revealed morphological changes in LL cases in the form of dense matrix and indistinct cristae of mitochondria; decreased number of lysosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum; and numerous vacuoles in cytoplasm. TT cases showed normal morphology. Possible role of Langerhans Cells in pathogenesis of leprosy is discussed.