LEU-6-EXPRESSING CELLS IN LYMPH-NODES - DENDRITIC CELLS PHENOTYPICALLY SIMILAR TO INTERDIGITATING CELLS HUMAN PATHOLOGY Weiss, L. M., Beckstead, J. H., Warnke, R. A., Wood, G. S. 1986; 17 (2): 179-184

Abstract

Leu-6 is an antigen expressed by immature T cells, Langerhans cells, and indeterminate cells, the latter two of which are dendritic cells found predominantly within the skin. In dermatopathic lymphadenopathy, the paracortex is expanded by T cells and dendritic cells, including Langerhans cells. While the paracortex also contains Leu-6+ cells, the nature of such cells in lymph nodes has been controversial. To determine the characteristics of Leu-6+ paracortical cells, their morphologic, antigenic, and enzymatic features were studied in lymph nodes showing dermatopathic lymphadenopathy or reactive follicular hyperplasia. Immunologic studies with plastic, frozen, and paraffin sections demonstrated a dendritic cell morphology, a dendritic cell lineage phenotype (L3B12+, HLA-A,B,C+, HLA-DR+, S-100+), and the absence of T-cell lineage phenotype. These findings were corroborated by the enzymatic phenotype of these cells observed in plastic sections (membrane ATPase+, weak paranuclear acid phosphatase+, weak paranuclear alpha-napthylacetate esterase+). Although all paracortical dendritic cells were otherwise identical, only a subset of these cells were Leu-6+. The close phenotypic similarity between these Leu-6+ and Leu-6- paracortical dendritic cell subsets suggests a close ontogenetic relation. Furthermore, the greater abundance of the Leu-6+ subset in dermatopathic lymph nodes than in nodes exhibiting only reactive follicular hyperplasia, in conjunction with the presence of Leu-6+ dendritic cells within the sinuses of dermatopathic lymph nodes, suggests that at least some of the paracortical Leu-6+ cells are Leu-6+ Langerhans cells or indeterminate cells derived from the skin via the afferent lymphatics.

View details for Web of Science ID A1986A096400012

View details for PubMedID 3081423