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Heat-stable antigen is an important costimulatory molecule on epidermal Langerhans' cells

A H Enk1, S I Katz

  • 1Dermatology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|April 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Heat-stable antigen (HSA) on Langerhans cells (LC) costimulates T helper 1 (Th1) cells, crucial for skin immunity. Blocking HSA inhibits Th1 proliferation and IL-2 production, suggesting its role in cutaneous immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Heat-stable antigen (HSA) is a costimulatory molecule for CD4+ T cells, expressed by activated B cells.
  • Epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) are known to express HSA, suggesting a role in skin immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether HSA expressed by LC acts as a costimulator for T helper (Th) cells.
  • To determine the role of LC-HSA in Th1 cell-dependent cutaneous immune reactions.

Main Methods:

  • Confirmed HSA expression on fresh and cultured LC.
  • Utilized anti-HSA monoclonal antibody (mAb) 20C9 to block HSA function.
  • Assessed Th cell proliferation and IL-2 production in response to LC.
  • Induced T cell anergy to investigate LC-HSA's costimulatory role.

Main Results:

  • HSA costimulatory effects were prominent on fresh and 1-day cultured LC, diminishing with longer culture times.
  • Anti-HSA mAb 20C9 significantly inhibited Th1 cell proliferation and IL-2 production induced by LC.
  • The inhibitory effect was specific to Th1 cells, not Th2 or peripheral lymph node T cells.
  • Th1 cells exposed to Ag-pulsed LC treated with anti-HSA mAb became anergic to subsequent stimulation.

Conclusions:

  • LC HSA is a significant costimulatory molecule for Th1 cells.
  • LC HSA plays a critical role in Th1 cell-dependent cutaneous immune responses.
  • Targeting LC HSA may modulate skin-specific immune reactions.

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