Epidermal Dendritic Cells in Immunodeficient Mice

Abstract

The expression of Ia+ Langerhans cells (LC) and Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells (Thy-1+DEC) was investigated in the skin of C57BL/6J mice homozygous for the viable motheaten, beige, rhino or nude mutations. These mutations cause various types of immunodeficiencies associated with abnormalities in skin structure. At one month of age viable motheaten (me v ) mice possess normal numbers of LC compared with control heterozygotes. However by five weeks, LC density decreases in me v /me v homozygotes reaching 404±119 cells/mm2 compared with 1198 ± 215 in control heterozygotes (p <; 0.002). This decrease in LC numbers correlates with a decrease in the number of interdigitating cells (IDC) isolated from the draining lymph nodes of motheaten mice. However, the ability of remaining viable motheaten mice-derived LC to transport antigens from the skin to the lymph nodes is retained. Nude mice possess significantly decreased numbers of Thy-1+DEC compared with heterozygote controls from the age of four months. Rhino mice possess significantly increased numbers of Thy-1+DEC at all ages tested. Thus these studies define autosomal recessive mutations in mice that are accompanied by striking changes in the numbers and function of epidermal dendritic cells.