Epidermal langerhans cell depletion after artificial ultraviolet B irradiation of human skin in vivo: Apoptosis versus migration
Open accessAbstract
Ultraviolet B radiation can suppress cellular immunity. One of the mechanisms related to this immunosuppression is the disappearance of Langerhans cells from the epidermis. The aim of this study was to establish the mechanism of ultraviolet B-induced Langerhans cell disappearance in healthy individuals. The two most likely mechanisms for Langerhans cell disappearance are apoptosis and migration. Apoptosis was assessed in vivo by exposing buttock skin of 10 healthy volunteers to six minimal erythema doses of ultraviolet B. Only very few apoptotic Langerhans cells could be observed in sections from the ultraviolet B-exposed skin. Migration of Langerhans cells cannot be established in skin sections and suction blisters were therefore raised in an attempt to trap migrating Langerhans cells in the sub-basal membrane blister fluid. Blisters were raised on the flexor side of the lower arm of 30 healthy volunteers at several time points after exposure of the skin to six minimal erythema doses of ultraviolet B. Blister fluid was collected and blister roofs were removed to check for Langerhans cell disappearance. Langerhans cells were detected in the blister fluid of the ultraviolet B-exposed skin and not of the unexposed skin. The number of Langerhans cells in the blister fluid peaked at about 18 h after ultraviolet exposure, which coincided with the largest depletion of Langerhans cells in the blister roof. A fraction (20-30%) of the Langerhans cells in the blister fluid stained positive for DNA damage (cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers), showing that they originated from the epidermis. Ultraviolet B-induced Langerhans cell disappearance appears to be mainly attributable to migration.
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UV can deplete Langerhans cells in the epidermis and impair their migratory capacity, leading to their accumulation in the dermis.
“Furthermore, UV can deplete LCs in the epidermis and impair their migratory capacity, leading to their accumulation in the dermis.”
From Molecular Mechanisms of UV-Induced Apoptosis and Its Effects on Skin Residential Cells: The Implication in UV-Based Phototherapy (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
The Results and Discussion (pp. 812–817) support epidermal Langerhans cell depletion after UVB exposure and identify migration as its main cause. They do not show that UV impairs the cells’ migratory capacity or causes them to accumulate in the dermis; the study instead detected migrating cells in blister fluid. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredUVR can induce the depletion of Langerhans cells in the epidermis and impair the migratory capacity of Langerhans cells, leading to their accumulation in the dermis.
“UVR can induce the depletion of LCs in the epidermis and impair the migratory capacity of LCs, leading to their accumulation in the dermis [62].”
From Molecular Mechanisms of UV-Induced Apoptosis and Its Effects on Skin Residential Cells: The Implication in UV-Based Phototherapy (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
The Results report epidermal Langerhans-cell depletion after UVB exposure, and the Discussion concludes that the depletion is mainly caused by migration. The paper does not establish that UVB impairs their migratory capacity or causes them to accumulate in the dermis; it detects migrating cells in blister fluid instead. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Lee, C.-H., Wu, S.-B., Hong, C.-H., Yu, H.-S., & Wei, Y.-H. (2013) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms14036414 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Kim, K. M., Lee, J. Y., Im, A.-R., & Chae, S. (2018) · Molecules · doi:10.3390/molecules23020478 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Epidermal Langerhans cells are not required for UV-induced immunosuppression
Wang, L., Jameson, S. C., & Hogquist, K. A. (2009) · The Journal of Immunology · doi:10.4049/jimmunol.0900235 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Pradhan, S., Kim, H. K., Thrash, C. J., Cox, M. A., Mantena, S. K., Wu, J.-H., Athar, M., Katiyar, S. K., Elmets, C. A., & Timares, L. (2008) · The Journal of Immunology · doi:10.4049/jimmunol.181.5.3077 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
“UV-induced apoptosis has been detected after in vitro irradiation of purified LCs after relatively long culture periods (48–72 h) (19) but has been difficult to detect in vivo (39).”
BackgroundCole, C., Appa, Y., & Ou‐Yang, H. (2014) · Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine · doi:10.1111/phpp.12124 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
- Authors
- Kölgen, W., Both, H., van Weelden, H., Guikers, K. L. H., Bruijnzeel-Koomen, C. A. F. M., Knol, E. F., van Vloten, W. A., & de Gruijl, F. R.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Kölgen, Wendy
- Venue
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-05
- Volume
- 118
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 812-817
- ISSN
- 0022-202X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2082775445
- Cited by
- 88
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 5.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Keywords
- Langerhans cells, UV-B radiation, immunosuppression, apoptosis, cell migration, epidermis, suction blister, blister fluid, DNA damage, minimal erythema dose, skin
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Blister, Cell Movement, DNA Damage, Epidermis, Female, Humans, Langerhans Cells, Male, Middle Aged, Pyrimidine Dimers, Suction, Ultraviolet Rays, Apoptosis, Antigens, CD1, Caspases, In Situ Nick-End Labeling, Caspase 3
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