Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Isolation of Lymphocytes from Mouse Genital Tract Mucosa
Published on: September 3, 2012
Murine epidermal antigen-presenting cells in primary and secondary T-cell proliferative responses to herpes simplex
N A Williams1, T J Hill, D C Hooper
1Department of Microbiology, The Medical School, University of Bristol, U.K.
Insights
Epidermal Langerhans
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection poses a significant health challenge.
- Langerhans' cells are key immune cells in the epidermis, crucial for skin immunity.
- Understanding their role in viral infections is vital for developing therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of epidermal Langerhans' cells in the immune response to herpes simplex virus (HSV).
- To compare the antigen-presenting capabilities of Langerhans' cells with splenic antigen-presenting cells in T-cell responses to HSV.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a cell culture system supporting antigen-specific primary and secondary T-cell proliferative responses.
- Employed UV-inactivated HSV for antigen presentation.
- Used epidermal cell suspensions, enriched Langerhans' cell populations, and depleted I-A-bearing cells.
- Compared responses with splenic antigen-presenting cells.
Main Results:
- Epidermal cell suspensions and Langerhans' cell-enriched populations effectively restimulated in vivo primed T cells against HSV.
- This activity was dependent on I-A-bearing cells.
- Langerhans' cells showed similar T-cell restimulation kinetics and phenotype as splenic antigen-presenting cells.
- Crucially, Langerhans' cells failed to induce proliferation in unprimed T cells, unlike splenic antigen-presenting cells.
Conclusions:
- Epidermal Langerhans' cells are capable of presenting HSV antigens to primed T cells, contributing to secondary immune responses.
- Langerhans' cells exhibit a deficiency in initiating primary T-cell responses to HSV, unlike splenic antigen-presenting cells.
- These findings highlight a specific role for Langerhans' cells in adaptive immunity to HSV, particularly in recall responses.
Abstract:
The role of epidermal Langerhans' cells in infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) was investigated using a culture system that supports antigen-specific primary and secondary T-cell proliferative responses. Epidermal cell suspensions were capable of restimulating the response of in vivo primed T cells to UV-inactivated HSV. This capability was also present in cell suspensions enriched for Langerhans' cells, but was abrogated by the depletion of I-A-bearing cells. The magnitude, kinetics and phenotype of the responding cells were similar to those elicited when HSV was presented to primed T cells by antigen-presenting cells from the spleen. In marked contrast, whereas splenic antigen-presenting cells induced strong antigen-specific proliferation of unprimed T cells (primarily of the helper phenotype), Langerhans' cells failed to invoke any detectable reaction of such cells.
