Epidermal Langerhans' Cells and Dermal Dendritic Cells in Human Fetal and Neonatal Skin: An Immunohistochemical Study

摘要

Abstract:The dendritic ceils in skin biopsies from 36 fetuses (from 16 weeks' gestational age on) and neonatal infants of different ages were investigated using a number of markers for various cells of the immune system and immunohistochemistry. Epidermal Langerhans' cells were found in all cases in a predominantly basal localization. The number of OKT6‐positive Langerhans' cells and the development of their dendritic processes gradually increased with age. Dermal dendritie cells were present as well. Both HLA‐DR‐positive and Leu‐10‐positive dermal dendritic cells were found in the superficial and deep dermis, often in a perivascular distribution. The OKT6‐positive dermal dendritic ceils were few in number and occurred only in the u