Open AccessQuantitative assessment of epidermal Langerhans cells using automated image analysis
Author(s) -
Smolle Josef,
HofmannWellenhof Rainer
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
skin research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.521
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1600-0846
pISSN - 0909-752X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0846.1998.tb00084.x
Subject(s) - epidermis (zoology) , langerhans cell , pathology , monoclonal antibody , immunohistochemistry , biology , immune system , medicine , antibody , anatomy , immunology
Background/aims: Langerhans cells play a central role In the skin immune system. Quantitative changes have been observed in a variety of dermatological conditions. This paper presents a user‐independent automated measurement procedure for Langerhans cells in vertical skin sections. Methods: Frozen sections were stained immunohistochemically with a CD1 monoclonal antibody. Counterstaining was performed with Mayer's hematoxylin. An image analysis procedure was developed, which automatically recognizes the area occupied by the epidermis and the CD1 ‐positive structures, respectively. Results: The procedure was tested on specimens of normal skin and of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The results significantly reflect the decrease of Langerhans cells in the latter condition. Conclusion: The proposed image analysis program facilitates a fully automated measurement of immunohistochemically stained epidermal structures in vertical skin sections.