Ejg. Vanwilsem et al., ANTIGEN-BEARING LANGERHANS CELLS IN SKIN DRAINING LYMPH-NODES - PHENOTYPE AND KINETICS OF MIGRATION, Journal of investigative dermatology, 103(2), 1994, pp. 217-220
Application of the fluorescent contact sensitizer Rhodamin B on mouse
epidermis was used to study the migration kinetics of Langerhans cells
into the draining lymph nodes. The expression of the dendritic cell m
arkers NLDC-145 and MIDC-8 was followed over time to determine the cor
relation between these markers and Langerhans cell migration. In contr
ast with its high expression on intraepidermal Langerhans cells, the e
xpression of NLD C-145 on dendritic cells in the draining lymph node w
as low at 24 h but increased at later times; in contrast, MIDC-8 expre
ssion on dendritic cells decreased. Ten days after Rhodamin B applicat
ion, antigen-bearing Langerhans cells were still present in the epider
mis; application of another unrelated contact sensitizer to the epider
mis at this time did not lead to migration of these residual Langerhan
s cells. These results indicate that not all antigen-bearing Langerhan
s cells migrate from the skin after application of a contact sensitize
r, indicating that signals in addition to simple antigen binding are n
ecessary for migration. During this migration from epidermis to lymph
nodes Langerhans eels undergo phenotypic changes. The decreased expres
sion of the endosomal antigens MIDC-8 and MOMA-2 correlates with diffe
rentiation from predominantly antigen-processing cells to predominantl
y antigen-presenting cells. The reduced expression of NLDC-145 is disc
ussed in light of a Langerhans cell-independent pathway of antigen tra
nsportation from skin to lymph node.