Comparison Of The Expression Of Differently-labelled Langerhans Cells In Basal Cell Carcinoma

Objective To analyze some features of differently-labelled Langerhans cells(LC)in the lesions of Basal cell carcinoma(BCC),and to explore the changes of number,morphology and distribution of them and then assess the roles of them in the cutaneous tumor immunity.Methods Immunohistochemistry technique was performed by using antibodies against the cell surface markers CD1a,S-100 protein and HLA-DR,and the positive cells were quantitatively estimated by the computer image analysis system.30 cases of BCC were included in this study,and 15 cases of Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC),15 cases of Seborrheic keratosis(SK)and 15 cases of normal skin were taken as controls,respectively.Results1.Cells-counting of LC:①CD1a-positive LC in BCC were topically observed in tumor nests,they revealed striking morphological changes:a reduced number of dendrites,with short and few branches;the number of CD1a+cells in BCC was significantly lower than in SK and normal skin(P<0.05).②S-100-positive LC were observed even all over the BCC lesions. And S-100+cells displayed a more matured morphology,with longer and more dendrites.The number of LC in BCC was obviously increased compared with SCC and normal skin(P<0.05)③HLA-DR-positive LC were focused by the peritumor area,their morphology were similar to the control;No significant differences were observed in the number of LC among SCC,normal control and BCC group(P>0.05).2.In the quantitative analysis of immunohistochemistry,there were no significant differences in gray density of HLA-DR among SCC, normal control and BCC group(P>0.05).However,the gray density of CD1a- positive cells in BCC group was statistically higher than in SK and normal skin(P<0.05),and the gray density of S-100+LC in BCC was statistically lower than in SCC and normal skin(P<0.05).3.The analysis of S-100+LC/CD1a+LC ratio showed:the ratios of S-100+LC to CD1a+LC in BCC groups were 3.89±0.72,and 0.85±0.14 in normal controls,and there were significant differences between them (P<0.05).Conclusion1.The number,morphology and distribution of differently-labelled Langerhans cells were significantly different in BCC,and the infiltration were mainly mature DC.2.The alterations in numbers,morphology and distribution of differently-labelled LC in the lesions of BCC,were indications of their local cells immune status;the high expression of S-100-positive LC may be one of the important causes of their biological behavior,such as the favorable prognosis and the low metastasis.