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AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF MHC CLASS I EXPRESSION ON HUMAN LANGERHANS CELLS AND MELANOCYTES
Author(s) -
MOSELEY ROBIN P.,
BROWN JAMES I.,
AULD JOHN,
MUMTAZ HAMID,
RAINEY ANDREW J.,
KIRKHAM NIGEL,
GELSTHORPE KEITH,
MASTERS RUTH,
SMITH MARK E. F.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199704)181:4<419::aid-path796>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - cd1 , major histocompatibility complex , mhc class i , cd8 , biology , mhc class ii , immunology , human leukocyte antigen , cd74 , immunocytochemistry , antigen , mhc restriction , c c chemokine receptor type 7 , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , endocrinology , chemokine , natural killer t cell , chemokine receptor
Classical MHC class I glycoproteins (HLA‐A, B, and C) present endogenous cytosolic peptide antigen fragments to CD8‐positive T‐cells. CD8‐positive T‐cell recognition and destruction of virus‐infected cells are dependent on adequate cellular MHC class I expression. Constitutive MHC class I expression is ubiquitous, but known to be deficient on specific differentiated cell types which include hepatocytes, neurones, chondrocytes and myocytes. Although enabling assessment of MHC class I expression on individual cells, limitations of immunocytochemistry were encountered with this assessment on Langerhans cells and melanocytes. These dispersed intraepidermal cells were obscured by adjacent keratinocytes in sections immunostained for MHC class I glycoproteins. Initiatives designed to resolve the issue have included immunoelectron microscopy, cell culture techniques, and animal bone marrow chimera models. Despite the elegance of these techniques, the issue of MHC class I expression on Langerhans cells and melanocytes remains unresolved. In this immunocytochemical study, an alternative strategy was based upon the recognized deficiency of epithelial MHC class I expression within pilosebaceous adnexal units. Langerhans cells and melanocytes were therefore studied within this microenvironment of deficient MHC class I expression, using monomorphic and polymorphic MHC markers. Langerhans cells and melanocytes were demonstrated within pilosebaceous units of scalp skin by immunocytochemistry. Differentiation markers OKT6 (CD1a) and TMH1 defined Langerhans cells and melanocytes, respectively. Monomorphic MHC markers W6/32 and TAL IB5 defined invariant epitopes of HLA class I and II, respectively. Polymorphic MHC class I markers defined the HLA‐Bw4 and HLA‐Bw6 supertypic determinants. Constitutive MHC class I expression was shown to be deficient on Langerhans cells and melanocytes. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.