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Published on: July 27, 2010
A new view on cutaneous dendritic cell subsets in experimental leishmaniasis
1Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. ritter@bni-hamburg.de
Insights
Epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) may not be the primary activators of T cell immunity as previously thought. Research using leishmaniasis models suggests a revised understanding of LC roles in cutaneous immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) are anatomically positioned for antigen uptake and presentation in skin-draining lymph nodes.
- LCs were traditionally considered crucial for initiating T cell responses in the skin.
- Recent studies challenge the established role of LCs as primary T cell activators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To revisit the biological role of epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) in cutaneous immune responses.
- To investigate the function of LCs in T cell-mediated immunity using the leishmaniasis model.
- To propose a novel concept for LC involvement in immunity against Leishmania major parasites.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing LC-specific markers (e.g., Langerin) and knock-in mouse models for LC isolation.
- Employing the leishmaniasis experimental model to study antigen-specific T cell responses.
- Monitoring the transport and presentation of Leishmania (L.) major antigens in vivo.
- Assessing the quality of T cell-dendritic cell (DC) interactions.
Main Results:
- Current data suggest LCs are not universally involved in inducing cellular immune responses.
- The paradigm of LCs as principal T cell activators is being questioned by recent publications.
- The leishmaniasis model allows in vivo monitoring of antigen presentation and T cell-DC interactions.
Conclusions:
- The established role of epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) in T cell activation requires re-evaluation.
- A novel concept regarding the function of LCs in T cell-mediated immunity against Leishmania major is proposed.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex role of LCs in cutaneous immunity.
Abstract:
Because of their anatomical distribution epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) are discussed to be crucial for antigen uptake and subsequent presentation to naïve T cells in skin-draining lymph nodes. The use of LC-specific markers like Langerin or knock-in mice expressing green fluorescent protein under the control of the Langerin promotor now facilitates the dissection of LCs from other dendritic cell (DC) subsets. Surprisingly, current data indicate that LCs are not generally involved in the induction of cellular immune responses. Moreover, the widely accepted paradigm postulating that LCs in principle act as T cell activators is contested by recent publications. Consequently, the biological role of LCs, in particular in cutaneous immune responses, needs to be revisited. The experimental model of leishmaniasis represents a suitable model to study the origin of an antigen-specific T cell response in mice. With this model the transport and presentation of skin derived Leishmania (L.) major antigens can be monitored in vivo. Furthermore, the quality of T cell-DC interactions can be determined. Considering recent progress in LC research we propose a novel concept of LCs in T cell meditated immunity against L. major parasites.
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