Chiyuki Kaneko

Differentiation of Langerhans Cells from Interdigitating Cells Using CD1a and S-100 Protein Antibodies

The present study shows that Langerhans cells can be differentiated from interdigitating cells at the light microscopic level. Superficial lymph nodes and skin taken from necropsies and the lymph nodes of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy (DPL) were used for this experiment. Sections of lymph node and skin were embedded using the acetone, methyl benzoate and xylene (AMeX) method and dendritic cells were immunostained with anti S-100 protein antibody (S-100, and OKT-6 (CD1a) using the restaining method. Langerhans cells in the skin were positive for both CD1a and S-100. Dendritic cells positive for both CD1a and S-100, and dendritic cells positive for S-100, but not for CD1a were observed in superficial lymph nodes. In normal superficial lymph nodes, there were more interdigitating cells than Langerhans cells. The majority of the dendritic cells in the DPL were Langerhans cells. We conclude that the S-100 and CD1a positive cells are Langerhans cells, and the S-100 positive-CD1a negative cells are interdigitating cells.

Studies on Intranuclear Inclusions and Nuclear Grooves in Papillary Thyroid Cancer by Light, Scanning Electron and Transmission Electron Microscopy

OBJECTIVEnTo successively examine intranuclear inclusions and nuclear grooves in the same papillary thyroid cancer specimens using a light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).nnnSTUDY DESIGNnWe stained cells by the Papanicolaou method after fixation in 1.25% glutaraldehyde for LM and then attempted to observe them successively by SEM-TEM after fixation in 2% paraformaldehyde and 2% osmium tetroxide.nnnRESULTSnOn SEM, intranuclear inclusions were observed as elevated parts, like hills, and nuclear grooves were observed as deep fissures or shallow cracks, sometimes with a few in one cell. On TEM, both intranuclear inclusions and nuclear grooves seemed formed by the nuclear membranes. Intranuclear inclusions also possessed cytoplasm and/or cytoplasmic organelles within some expanded areas in the nuclear grooves.nnnCONCLUSIONnIt was evident from our three-step technique that intranuclear inclusions and nuclear grooves were essentially the same structures.

Migration and maturation of Langerhans cells in squamous metaplasia of the rat trachea induced by vitamin A deficiency

SummaryThe migration and maturation of Langerhans cells (LCs) in rat tracheal squamous metaplasia due to vitamin A deficiency were investigated immunohisto-chemically and electron microscopically. In the early stage of metaplasia, i.e. basal cell hyperplasia, no LCs with Birbeck granules (BGs) could be found, but there were desmosome-free cells which had the morphological charcteristics of immature LCs. They were clearly different from inflammatory cells such as macrophages and lymphocytes, and were, therefore, considered to be precursors of LCs. In the stage of stratification, small numbers of Ia-and protein kinase C type II (PKCII)-positive cells were recognized. Ultrastructually they were immature LCs with ovoid nuclei, many free ribosomes and few dendrites. The cytoplasm was dark and a few BGs and atypical granules (AGs) could be seen in the Golgi area. In the early stage of cornification, LCs with partially intended nuclei, prominent nucleoli and well-developed Golgi complexes were found. There were many BGs and AGs and structures transitional between them in the Golgi areas. In epithelium showing mature squamous metaplasia, many Ia-and PKCII-positive dendritic cells could be seen. Most of these were typical mature LCs with lobulated nuclei, clear cytoplasm and prominent dendritic processes. The number of BGs and AGs was fewer than in the LCs found in the early stage of cornification, and these granules were distributed throughout the cytoplasm. In the final stage, where the basal cells had differentiated into a flatter epithelium, few LCs could be seen. These findings suggest that the precursors of LCs without BGs migrate into metaplastic squamous epithelium and mature into LCs forming BGs after exposure to the microenvironment of the squamous epithelium.

Langerhans cells in the lymph node : mirror section and immunoelectron microscopic studies

SummaryCells immunostained with antibodies against both OKT-6 and S-100 protein were observed only in superficial and hilar lymph nodes draining tissues with predominantly squamous epithelia. In contrast, in mesenteric lymph nodes and the spleen, only S-100 protein-positive, but OKT-6-negative cells were found. We suspect that the S-100 and OKT-6-positive cells might be Langerhans cells (LC) and the S-100-positive, OKT-6-negative cells, interdigitating reticulum cells (IDC). We further postulate that the LC in superficial and hilar lymph nodes might migrate from squamous epithelia, with which contact is required for the formation of Birbeck granules.

Do epidermal Langerhans cells, migrating from skin lesions, induce the paracortical hyperplasia of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy?

In the present study, immunohlstochemical and Immuno‐electron microscopic techniques were used to differentiate Langerhans cells (LC) from interdigitating cells (IDC) in the lymph nodes (LN) of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy. The majority of the dendritic cells that existed In the LN of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy were positive for OKT‐6 (CD la) antibody. It was concluded that these dendritic cells were not IDC, but LC. Electron microscopically, LC In these LN contained a few Blrbeck granules (BG). In order to prove the fact that these dendritic cells were LC, the existence of BG was investigated ultrastructurally by examining serial sections, and Immunoelectron microscopically for CD 1a positive cells. Most of the LC in the lymph nodes we examined were negative for the anti‐prollferating nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody. This finding may mean that LC in the LN are fully developed cells and do not divide In the LN. Langer‐hana cells may migrate from the skin lesions to the paracortical areas in the LN, which then may become enlarged.

Gastric lesions in rats fed salted food materials commonly eaten by Japanese

A high intake of salted food is thought to be related to the high incidence of stomach cancer in Japan. In the present study, female F344 rats were divided into four groups. They were fed a nutritionally deficient purified diet (Group 1) and standard purified diet (Group 3) for 113 weeks and the same diets supplemented with salted cuttlefish guts, broiled, salted, dried sardines, pickled radish, and soy sauce (Groups 2 and 4). The incidence of papillomas and ulcers of the forestomach was highest in Group 4, which was given the standard diet supplemented with the salty food materials (p less than 0.05). These results suggest the importance of salted food as a suspicious causal factor in human stomach cancer in Japan.

Presence of nuclear grooves in endometrial cytology

Although the presence of nuclear grooving in papillary carcinomas of the thyroid has been well‐described, so far the attention paid to similar structures in endometrial cell samples has been limited. In order to investigate the occurrence of nuclear grooves in endometrial specimens from patients with various pathologic conditions of the endometrium, we compared their appearance with papillary thyroid cancers. A total of 10 cases was studied (age range, 40–72 yr), all cases demonstrating nuclear grooves. In each case, 10 random high‐power fields (HPFs) were investigated, and the numbers of fields in which nuclear grooving could be seen were recorded. Nuclear grooves were observed in 3–36 of each HPFs and were more often observed in atypical endometrial cells than in their normal‐appearing counterparts; however, these nuclear alterations were thought to be nonspecific findings. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:63–65.

A Comparative Study on Langerhans Cells in Lymph Nodes with Dermatopathic Lymphadenopathy and Histiocytosis X Cells

It was elucidated that the majority of DC were LC which were positive for CD 1a, but negative for PCNA, and possessed BG in the lymph nodes with DPL. On the other hand, HCX cells were almost always positive for PCNA. From this point of view, it can be speculated that LC in the lymph nodes of the DPL are non dividing mature cells and migrate from the skin lesion. HCX cells which were positive for CD 4 may be more immature cells than LC in DPL, and may be pathological cells which can divide in the foci.

Bar-shaped nuclear chromatin in conjunctival samples: With cytologic features and ultrastructural correlation

OBJECTIVEnTo study the cytomorphologic features of bar-shaped chromatin in conjunctival samples and assess whether there are morphologic similarities between nuclear grooves seen in thyroid papillary carcinoma and bar-shaped chromatin.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnA total of 10 conjunctival samples from five volunteers were studied cytologically. Of the 10 samples, 2 showed barshaped chromatin. This chromatin was studied using a light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).nnnRESULTSnOn SEM, bar-shaped chromatin was observed as a fissure or shallow cracks. On TEM the barshaped chromatin existed both in the center of the nuclei and in the nuclear membrane and cytoplasm. It was surrounded by outer and inner membranes.nnnCONCLUSIONnIt seems that bar-shaped chromatin is formed by the nuclear membrane and that these changes are essentially the same configuration as cytoplasmic invaginations commonly present in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Studies on Langerhans cells in the tracheal squamous metaplasia of vitamin A deficient rats.

LCs in the tracheal squamous metaplasia of vitamin A deficient rats were studied. The first appearance of LCs with Birbeck granules (BGs) was in the stage of stratification. The number of LCs increased along with the development of metaplasia, but decreased in number in the later stage, where basal cells also differentiate into flattened epithelium. In the area where only basal cells differentiated into flatter epithelium, without a cornified layer, LCs with BGs could also be found. These findings suggest that LCs which originate in bone marrow mature in squamous epithelium. The distribution and morphology of LCs are dependent on the state of keratinocytes, but not the presence of a cornified layer.