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Langerhans cells in porcine skin
Charles K Nfon1, Harry Dawson, Felix N Toka
1Plum Island Animal Disease Center, ARS, USDA, Greenport, NY 11944, United States.
Insights
Researchers identified porcine langerin (CD207), confirming most swine skin dendritic cells (DCs) are Langerhans cells (LCs). This advances swine models for skin disease research.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Veterinary Science
Background:
- Langerhans cells (LCs) are key dendritic cells (DCs) in skin and mucosal epithelium.
- Identification of LCs relies on langerin (CD207) expression, which mediates Birbeck granule formation.
- Previous studies reported conflicting findings on Birbeck granules in porcine skin DCs due to a lack of langerin detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the sequence of porcine langerin/CD207.
- To confirm the presence and expression of langerin in porcine skin DCs.
- To establish swine as a viable model for studying skin diseases.
Main Methods:
- Obtained the full-length sequence of porcine langerin/CD207.
- Utilized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect langerin mRNA in porcine skin DCs.
- Employed immunostaining to detect langerin protein in isolated DCs and skin sections.
Main Results:
- The predicted porcine langerin protein shares significant identity (75%) and similarity (86%) with human langerin.
- Langerin mRNA and protein were successfully detected in porcine skin DCs.
- Approximately 50-70% of porcine skin DCs express langerin, identifying them as LCs.
Conclusions:
- The majority of porcine skin DCs are Langerhans cells (LCs).
- The characterized porcine langerin sequence and validated antibodies facilitate LC research in swine.
- This study enhances the utility of swine models for investigating skin diseases and infections.
Abstract:
Langerhans cells (LCs) are resident dendritic cells (DCs) of skin and mucosal epithelium. The standard for identifying skin DCs as LCs is expression of langerin (CD207), a surface protein that mediates Birbeck granule (BG) formation upon internalization. Reports of BGs in porcine skin DC are contradictory, due to lack of langerin detection. Here, we present the sequence of porcine langerin/CD207, showing that the predicted porcine protein shares 75%/86% amino acid identity/similarity with human. Langerin mRNA was detected in porcine skin DCs by PCR and langerin protein was detected in both isolated skin DCs and skin sections by immunostaining. Approximately, 50-70% of skin DCs expressed langerin, demonstrating that the majority of porcine skin DCs are LCs. The full length sequence combined with the identification of antibodies reactive with porcine langerin, facilitates the study of LCs in swine, and advances the use of swine for studying skin diseases and infectious disease processes involving skin.
