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Human normal-resting epidermal Langerhans cells do express the type 3 complement receptor
G De Panfilis1, D Soligo, G C Manara
1Department of Dermatology, Parma University, Italy.
Insights
Human epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) express the CR3 receptor, a finding previously only established in mice. This study utilized advanced electron microscopy to confirm CR3 presence on normal human LC.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The complement receptor 3 (CR3) is known to be expressed by murine epidermal Langerhans cells (LC).
- CR3 expression on normal human epidermal LC has not been previously demonstrated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and demonstrate CR3 expression on normal human resting epidermal Langerhans cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized highly sensitive immunostaining techniques.
- Employed immunogold labeling with transmission- and scanning-electron microscopy.
- Analyzed freshly isolated, LC-enriched, normal human epidermal cells.
Main Results:
- Human normal resting epidermal LC were confirmed to be CR3-positive.
- Low but significant numbers of gold granules labeled the plasma membrane of observed LC under transmission-electron microscopy.
- All epidermal cells exhibiting LC morphology showed CR3 expression via scanning-electron microscopy.
Conclusions:
- Normal human epidermal Langerhans cells express the CR3 receptor.
- This study provides the first evidence of CR3 expression on human LC.
Abstract:
The expression of CR3 by murine-resting epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) is well established, but CR3 expression by human normal-resting epidermal LC has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, highly sensitive immunostaining techniques, such as immunogold labelling in transmission- and scanning-electron microscopy, were used on freshly isolated, LC-enriched, normal human epidermal cells. Human normal resting epidermal LC were found to be CR3+, since a low but significant number of gold granules labelled the plasma membrane of all the LC observed under transmission-electron microscopy, and all the epidermal cells showing LC morphology as observed by scanning-electron microscopy.