Activated Langerhans Cells Release Tumor Necrosis Factor

Abstract

Langerhans cell act as antigen presenting cells in immune reactions in the skin. What other roles they may play in inflammation are less well defined. We have tested whether these cells can produce TNF-alpha, an important mediator of inflammation. Resting Langerhans cells produce less than 0.1 U TNF- alpha/ml. Langerhans cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) release 4-5 U TNF-alpha/ml. Specificity of the released TNF-alpha in an L929 cytotoxicity assay was confirmed using neutralizing anti- TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies, and the identity of TNF-alpha was further confirmed by Northern blot hybridization using a TNF-alpha oligomer DNA probe. Activated Langerhans cells may contribute to inflammation in the skin by releasing TNF-alpha, which is known to effect fibroblast growth, endothelial cell activation, and lymphocyte function.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA206646

Entities

People

  • James W. Larrick
  • Tim Shi
  • Vera Morhenn
  • Yawen L. Chiang

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antibodies
  • Azo Compounds
  • Biological Factors
  • Blood
  • Cells
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Inflammation
  • Lymphocytes
  • Molecules
  • Mononuclear Phagocyte System
  • Necrosis
  • Oligomers
  • Phagocytes
  • Proteins
  • Standards
  • Thymocytes

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Oncology (Cancer Research).