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Evidence for endocytotic mechanisms in the epidermal Langerhans cells.

Elofsson, Rolf LU ; Andersson, Anders ; Falck, Bengt LU and Sjöborg, Steinar (1981) In Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum 99. p.29-39
Abstract
When the Langerhans cells (LC) are prepared for
electron microscopy with an osmotically balanced prefixative,
they display their classical criteria, but in addition
they are provided with numerous microvilli and contain
pinocytotic vesicles. In cross-sections the specific discshaped
granules are visualized as rod-like profiles limited by
a trilaminar membrane similar to the cell membrane. In
face-on projection the electron density of a single granule is
too low to permit its observation. It ts suggested that the
racquet-shaped profile bounded by a non-trilaminar membrane,
regarded as classical, is a fixation artifact. The view
is advanced that the Birbeck granules are formed by a... (More)
When the Langerhans cells (LC) are prepared for
electron microscopy with an osmotically balanced prefixative,
they display their classical criteria, but in addition
they are provided with numerous microvilli and contain
pinocytotic vesicles. In cross-sections the specific discshaped
granules are visualized as rod-like profiles limited by
a trilaminar membrane similar to the cell membrane. In
face-on projection the electron density of a single granule is
too low to permit its observation. It ts suggested that the
racquet-shaped profile bounded by a non-trilaminar membrane,
regarded as classical, is a fixation artifact. The view
is advanced that the Birbeck granules are formed by a process
implying a superimposition of membrane folds. The
occurrence of phagocytosed melanosomes seems to be a
normal phenomenon.
The LC are highly activated in contact allergic dermatitis,
as expressed by an increase in number, a polarization
of dendrites towards the surface and the appearance of
membrane active zones characterized by intense membrane
folding, combined with a formation of pinocytotic vesicles
and specific granules. Challenging sensitized skin with
nickel leads to the occurrence of dark vesicles which probably
lack a limiting membrane. It is concluded that the LC
show endocytotic activity and that they constitute an
important defense system in the epidermis, i.e., capable of
capturing extracellular (endogenous or exogenous) material
via different routes. (Less)
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; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Epidermal Langerhans cells, Birbeck granules, Endocytosis, Contact allergy
in
Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum
volume
99
pages
29 - 39
publisher
Society for the Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica
external identifiers
  • scopus:0019767888
ISSN
0365-8341
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d0eb5184-16b5-475d-9eb3-d2ee8438cd2e
date added to LUP
2016-11-28 16:32:08
date last changed
2025-10-14 12:47:29
@article{d0eb5184-16b5-475d-9eb3-d2ee8438cd2e,
  abstract     = {{When the Langerhans cells (LC) are prepared for<br/>electron microscopy with an osmotically balanced prefixative,<br/>they display their classical criteria, but in addition<br/>they are provided with numerous microvilli and contain<br/>pinocytotic vesicles. In cross-sections the specific discshaped<br/>granules are visualized as rod-like profiles limited by<br/>a trilaminar membrane similar to the cell membrane. In<br/>face-on projection the electron density of a single granule is<br/>too low to permit its observation. It ts suggested that the<br/>racquet-shaped profile bounded by a non-trilaminar membrane,<br/>regarded as classical, is a fixation artifact. The view<br/>is advanced that the Birbeck granules are formed by a process<br/>implying a superimposition of membrane folds. The<br/>occurrence of phagocytosed melanosomes seems to be a<br/>normal phenomenon.<br/>The LC are highly activated in contact allergic dermatitis,<br/>as expressed by an increase in number, a polarization<br/>of dendrites towards the surface and the appearance of<br/>membrane active zones characterized by intense membrane<br/>folding, combined with a formation of pinocytotic vesicles<br/>and specific granules. Challenging sensitized skin with<br/>nickel leads to the occurrence of dark vesicles which probably<br/>lack a limiting membrane. It is concluded that the LC<br/>show endocytotic activity and that they constitute an<br/>important defense system in the epidermis, i.e., capable of<br/>capturing extracellular (endogenous or exogenous) material<br/>via different routes.}},
  author       = {{Elofsson, Rolf and Andersson, Anders and Falck, Bengt and Sjöborg, Steinar}},
  issn         = {{0365-8341}},
  keywords     = {{Epidermal Langerhans cells; Birbeck granules; Endocytosis; Contact allergy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{29--39}},
  publisher    = {{Society for the Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica}},
  series       = {{Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum}},
  title        = {{Evidence for endocytotic mechanisms in the epidermal Langerhans cells.}},
  volume       = {{99}},
  year         = {{1981}},
}