リンパ節および脾臓内T領域における樹状細胞の免疫組織化学的研究

抄録

Langerhans cells (LCs) in the epidermis and interdigitating reticulum cells (IDCs) in the lymph nodes are said to have the same morphological and immunological characteristics. In this paper, we examined LCs and IDCs in the superficial (cervical and inguinal), hilar and mesenteric lymph nodes, and also spleens, using anti S-100 protein and OKT-6 antibodies for immunostaining. Lymph nodes and spleens taken from 16 autopsies were used for the experiments. We were able to observe LCs which were positive for both anti S-100 protein and OKT-6 in the superficial and hilar lymph nodes. However, we could not find LCs in the mesenteric lymph nodes or spleens. The immunological and morphological features of LCs were similar to those of veiled cells in the marginal sinus possibly moving from the skin to the T-zone of the superficial and hilar lymph nodes. OKT-6 positive cells were not exactly identical with anti S-100 protein positive cells, because the total number of S-100 protein positive cells was greater than that of OKT-6 positive cells. The existence of a larger number of OKT-6 positive cells in the inguinal lymph nodes than in the cervical lymph nodes may be because there are more opportunities for the lower extremities to receive different kinds of stimuli than for the head. LCs may receive some stimulation from the external environment and/or retain antigens. LCs might also be responsible for T cell dependent immune responses. Our results suggest that LCs and IDCs have slightly different immunological characteristics, and therefore, they may have some different functions.