LANGERHANS CELLS - USEFUL OR HARMFUL

Langerhans cells are highly specialized antigen presenting cells. They belong to the family of dendritic cells and therefore possess the cap acity to stimulate naive T cells. Due to this unusual function, specif ic to dendritic cells, they play a decisive role in the elaboration of the primary and secondary response, and therefore in the mechanisms o f immune information and defense. New developments in allergological o r anticancer specific immunotherapy will probably involve dendritic ce lls. In contrast, this particular immunological surveillance function of Langerhans cells also suggests a decisive role in the triggering an d/or maintenance of many cutaneous immunoallergo-logical diseases, suc h as allergic contact eczema or atopic dermatitis.