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Human epidermal Langerhans cells express the ICAM-3 molecule. Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopical
G C Manara1, G Pasquinelli, L Badiali-De Giorgi
1Department of Dermatology, University of Parma, Italy.
Insights
The study found that intercellular adhesion molecule-3 (ICAM-3) is present on all human epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs). This suggests ICAM-3 plays a key role in skin immune cell interactions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Leukocyte function involves interactions mediated by cell surface molecules.
- Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-3 (ICAM-3) is known to be expressed on various immune cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of ICAM-3 on human epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs).
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining of skin sections using anti-ICAM-3 monoclonal antibodies.
- High-sensitivity immunoelectron microscopy on epidermal cell suspensions (transmission and scanning).
Main Results:
- The entire population of human epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) expresses ICAM-3.
- Keratinocytes and melanocytes in the epidermis did not express ICAM-3.
- ICAM-3 was detected on the cell surface of LCs.
Conclusions:
- Langerhans cells prominently express ICAM-3 on their surface.
- ICAM-3 likely plays a significant role in leukocyte-skin cell interactions within the epidermis.
Abstract:
Three ligands have been described for the leucocyte integrin LFA-1, namely intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, ICAM-2, and ICAM-3. ICAMs show differences in tissue distribution and inducibility. The recently described ICAM-3 is highly expressed on resting lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. Here, we demonstrate that the whole human epidermal Langerhans cell (LC) population expresses this molecule. Immunohistochemical staining of skin sections with an anti-ICAM-3 monoclonal antibody displayed reactivity with dendritic epidermal cells regularly distributed along the epidermis. Highly-sensitive immunoelectron microscopy procedures, performed on freshly suspended epidermal cells both at transmission and scanning electron microscopic levels, enabled demonstration that the whole LC population expresses cell surface ICAM-3. In contrast, keratinocytes and melanocytes were consistently negative. The prominent expression of ICAM-3 by resident LC could imply a crucial part for this molecule in leucocyte-intercellular interactions in the skin.
