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Viruses and Langerhans cells

Anthony L Cunningham1, Allison Abendroth, Cheryl Jones

  • 1Centre for Virus Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, New South Wales, Australia. Tony_Cunningham@wmi.usyd.edu.au

Immunology and Cell Biology
|May 7, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Langerhans cells (LCs) act as sentinels in the skin, interacting uniquely with viruses like HSV and HIV. Their role in immune response and antigen presentation varies significantly by virus type.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Langerhans cells (LCs) are key dendritic cells (DCs) in the epidermis and mucosal stratified squamous epithelium.
  • A similar DC population exists in the murine dermis.
  • LCs function as sentinel antigen-presenting cells, interacting with viruses like herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the variable responses of LCs to different viral infections.
  • To explore the role of LCs in antigen presentation and immune response initiation.
  • To highlight the need for further research into LC-virus interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Langerhans cell-virus interactions.
  • Comparative analysis of LC responses to HSV, VZV, and HIV.
  • Discussion of proposed mechanisms of LC involvement in viral immunity.

Main Results:

  • Viral interactions with LCs elicit diverse responses; for instance, HSV induces LC apoptosis, while HIV does not.
  • LCs are implicated in initiating T cell responses in lymph nodes for HSV and VZV.
  • LCs may transport viruses like HIV and VZV to T cells.
  • LCs, with keratinocytes, might contribute to the initial epidermal innate immune response.

Conclusions:

  • The biological responses of LCs to viruses are complex and virus-dependent.
  • LCs play a critical role in initiating adaptive immunity against viral pathogens.
  • Further in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary to fully elucidate LC-virus interactions and their immunological consequences.

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