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Differentiation of Langerhans cells from interdigitating cells using CD1a and S-100 protein antibodies
M Shinzato1, M Shamoto, S Hosokawa
1Division of Pathological Cytology, Fujita Health University, Aichi, Japan.
Insights
Langerhans cells and interdigitating cells, crucial immune cells, can be distinguished using S-100 and CD1a markers. This research clarifies their identification in skin and lymph nodes, aiding dermatopathic lymphadenopathy diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Langerhans cells and interdigitating cells are dendritic cell populations with distinct roles in immune responses.
- Differentiating these cells is crucial for understanding skin and lymph node pathologies, particularly dermatopathic lymphadenopathy (DPL).
- Current methods for distinguishing these cell types can be challenging at the light microscopic level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish clear criteria for differentiating Langerhans cells from interdigitating cells using specific immunomarkers.
- To investigate the distribution and characteristics of these cells in normal skin, superficial lymph nodes, and DPL.
- To validate the utility of S-100 protein and CD1a (OKT-6) antibodies for cell identification.
Main Methods:
- Tissue samples from necropsies (skin and superficial lymph nodes) and DPL lymph nodes were utilized.
- The acetone, methyl benzoate, and xylene (AMeX) embedding method was employed for tissue sectioning.
- Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-S-100 protein and anti-CD1a (OKT-6) antibodies with a restaining technique.
Main Results:
- Langerhans cells in the skin stained positive for both CD1a and S-100.
- Superficial lymph nodes exhibited CD1a+/S-100+ dendritic cells (Langerhans cells) and CD1a-/S-100+ dendritic cells (interdigitating cells).
- Normal lymph nodes showed a predominance of interdigitating cells over Langerhans cells, while DPL predominantly featured Langerhans cells.
Conclusions:
- S-100 and CD1a positive cells are identified as Langerhans cells.
- S-100 positive and CD1a negative cells are identified as interdigitating cells.
- This immunophenotypic distinction provides a reliable method for differentiating Langerhans and interdigitating cells in pathological conditions like DPL.
Abstract:
The present study shows that Langerhans cells can be differentiated from interdigitating cells at the light microscopic level. Superficial lymph nodes and skin taken from necropsies and the lymph nodes of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy (DPL) were used for this experiment. Sections of lymph node and skin were embedded using the acetone, methyl benzoate and xylene (AMeX) method and dendritic cells were immunostained with anti S-100 protein antibody (S-100, and OKT-6 (CD1a) using the restaining method. Langerhans cells in the skin were positive for both CD1a and S-100. Dendritic cells positive for both CD1a and S-100, and dendritic cells positive for S-100, but not for CD1a were observed in superficial lymph nodes. In normal superficial lymph nodes, there were more interdigitating cells than Langerhans cells. The majority of the dendritic cells in the DPL were Langerhans cells. We conclude that the S-100 and CD1a positive cells are Langerhans cells, and the S-100 positive-CD1a negative cells are interdigitating cells.
