S100 protein-positive Langerhans cells in 80 dentigerous cysts

摘要

Background/purpose Langerhans cells (LCs) are antigen-presenting cells. This study assessed the LC counts in 80 dentigerous cysts (DCs). Materials and methods The S100-positive LC numbers in the lining epithelia and subepithelial connective tissues were counted at 80 DC sites without inflammation, 33 DC sites with mild/moderate inflammation, and 9 DC sites with severe inflammation from 80 DC specimens. Results The mean S100-positive LC counts in the lining epithelia and subepithelial connective tissues increased significantly from no inflammation (0.6?±?0.6 and 0.7?±?0.6?cell/high-power field or HPF, respectively) through mild/moderate inflammation (8.1?±?2.0 and 4.5?±?2.3?cells/HPF, respectively) to severe inflammation DC sites (21.0?±?7.0 and 11.1?±?6.5?cells/HPF, respectively; P -value? 50?μm) group (8.6?±?7.1 and 4.8?±?4.5?cells/HPF, respectively) than in the thinner lining epithelium (≦50?μm) group (0.6?±?0.6 and 0.6?±?0.6?cells/HPF, respectively; both P -values?