Langerhans cell | |
---|---|
![]() Section of skin showing large numbers of Langerhans cells in the epidermis. (M. ulcerans infection, S100 immunoperoxidase stain.) | |
Details | |
System | Immune system |
Location | Skin and mucosa |
Function | Dendritic cell |
Identifiers | |
MeSH | D007801 |
FMA | 63072 |
Anatomical terms of microanatomy |
A Langerhans cell (LC) is a tissue-resident macrophage of the skin[2] once thought to be a resident dendritic cell.[3] These cells contain organelles called Birbeck granules. They are present in all layers of the epidermis and are most prominent in the stratum spinosum.[4] They also occur in the papillary dermis, particularly around blood vessels,[4] as well as in the mucosa of the mouth, foreskin, and vaginal epithelium.[5] They can be found in other tissues, such as lymph nodes, particularly in association with the condition Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).
pmid7558138
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).