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Human Keratinocytes Express HLA‐DR Antigens in the Tuberculin Reaction
Author(s) -
SCHEYNIUS A.,
TJERNLUND U.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1984.tb00910.x
Subject(s) - tuberculin , antigen , immunology , epidermis (zoology) , immunohistochemistry , inducer , immune system , human leukocyte antigen , phenotype , staining , antibody , biology , medicine , pathology , tuberculosis , gene , biochemistry , anatomy
The cellular response in the human skin tuberculin reaction was studied with immunohistochemical double‐staining techniques in frozen sections of skin biopsies taken 6 h to 8 days after intradermal PPD injections. Cell infiltrates were observed from day 2 onwards and increased in size up to 4 days. Most of the infiltrating cells reacted with anti‐Leu 3a (T ‘helper/inducer’ phenotype) antibodies. In contrast to normal epidermis, not only Langerhans cells but also keratinocytes expressed MLA‐DR antigens from day 4 onwards. The induction of HLA‐DR antigens on keratinocytes may be secondary to T‐cell activation. Since the HLA‐DR expression on keratinocytes appeared late in the tuberculin reaction, the function may be to suppress rather than enhance the immune response.