Summary
A tentative model is presented which is based on existing published data. The model suggests that the epidermal Langerhans cell plays a central role in contact dermatitis by proliferation control of keratinocytes and as the most peripheral outpost of the immune system. Contact dermatitis to chemicals is the injurious expression of a defense mechanism designed phylogenitically against arthropods and insects.
Zusammenfassung
Es wird auf Grund von Veröffentlichungen der letzten Jahre eine Hypothese entwickelt, daß die Langerhans-Zellen eine zentrale Rolle bei der Kontaktdermatitis spielen, indem sie sowohl die Proliferation der Keratinozyten kontrollieren als auch der Außenposten im Immunsystem sind. Eine Kontaktdermatitis gegenüber Chemikalien wäre dann die fehlerhafte Auslösung eines Abwehrmechanismus, der phylogenetisch gegen Arthropoden und Insekten vorgesehen ist.
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Supported in part by a grant of Schering AG, Berlin
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Breit, R. The langerhans cell: The master key to contact dermatitis: A hypothesis. Arch Dermatol Res 272, 401–405 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00509072
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00509072
Key words
- Langerhans cell
- Contact dermatitis
- Immunologic function
- Keratinocyte proliferation control
- Parasite defense