Susumu Iijima

Langerhans cells at the sites of vaccinia virus inoculation.

SummaryLangerhans cells in the epidermis at the sites of vaccinia virus inoculation were studied with the electron microscope. The cells contained unusually increased numbers of the Langerhans cell granules. Such abnormal Langerhans cells have not been described except for in histiocytosis X. Vaccinia virus particles were found in the Langerhans cells, where they were located individually or embedded in the granular matrix or in lysosomes.ZusammenfassungLangerhans-Zellen in der Epidermis der Impfpapeln nach der Pockenimpfung wurden elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Diese Zellen hatten ungewöhnlich zahlreiche Langerhans-Zell-Granula, die oft abnorme Konfigurationen zeigten. Solche Langerhans-Zellen sind bisher nicht beschrieben worden, außer bei der Histiocytose X. Die Vakzinviren wurden in den Langerhans-Zellen gefunden, wo die Viren isoliert oder in den granulären Matrizen bzw. in den Lysosomen existierten.

Light and electron microscopic study of Riehl's melanosis. Possible mode of its pigmentary incontinence.

Four cases of Riehls melanosis were studied with light and electron microscopes. The results obtained were as follows:

Mast cells in the epidermis of piebaldism

SummaryThe depigmented lesion in a case of piebaldism (partial albinism) was examined by electron microscopy. In the epidermis melanocytes were absent and the number of Langerhans cells was increased. In addition several mast cells were found in the epidermis.ZusammenfassungDie depigmentierte Haut bei einem Fall vom partiellen Albinismus (piebaldism) wurde elektronenmikroscopisch untersucht. Melanocyten wurden in der Epidermis nicht gefunden, dagegen war die Zahl der Langerhansschen Zellen offensichtlich vermehrt. Außerdem wurden einige Mastzellen in der Epidermis gefunden. Die Bedeutung der Befunde wird diskutiert.

A Langerhans Cell in the Spongiform Pustule of Pustular Psoriasis

SummaryThe pustule of pustular psoriasis of Zumbusch type has been examined electron microscopically. A Langerhans cell was found in the pustule cavity and its cytoplasm contained granules closely similar in morphology to the distinctive granules of neutrophils. These granules were conglomerated and surrounded by a membrane as a whole. Other organelles of the cell were well preserved, indicating its active cellular function. On the other hand, organelles of keratinocytes around the pustule appeared to undergo degenerating processes. It is suggested that the Langerhans cell is capable of carrying out phagocytosis more actively than keratinocytes under some pathological condition.ZusammenfassungBei der elektronenmikroskopischen Untersuchung einer Pustel bei Psoriasis pustulosa (Zumbusch) fand sich im Pustelinhalt eine Langerhans-Zelle. Die im Cytoplasma dieser Zelle sichtbaren Granula waren den charakteristischen Granula der neutrophilen Leukocyten sehr ähnlich. Sie lagen zusammengepackt und waren von einer Membran umschlossen. Andere Zellorganellen zeigten morphologische Hinweise für den Fortbestand aktiver Zelleistungen. Im Gegensatz dazu standen die Zellorganellen der umgebenden Keratinocyten im Zeichen einer fortschreitenden Degeneration. Anhand dieser Beobachtungen wird vermutet, daß unter pathologischen Umständen die Phagocytoseaktivität bei der Langerhans-Zelle stärker ausgeprägt ist als in den Keratinocyten.

Myofibroblasts in basal cell epithelioma: with special reference to the phagocytic function of myofibroblasts.

Three cases of basal cell epithelioma were studied with light and electron microscopy. Myofibroblasts, some containing melanosomes, were observed in the stroma of the tumors. The significance of these cells in the tumor is briefly discussed.

A Case of Scabies Complicated by Acute Glomerulonephritis

A 21‐year‐old male patient with scabies complicated by acute glomerulonephritis was reported. In the literature, such patients are prevalent in the tropical and subtropical zones, but only sporadic in the temperate zone. The incidence of such patients and the cause of glomerulonephritis were discussed.

Concentric lamellar spheres in urine from a female carrier of and patients with Fabry's disease--with special reference to polarization and electron microscopic comparison with nephrotic syndrome.

In urine samples of patients with Fabrys disease (angiokeratoma corporis diffusum, ACD) mulberry cells appear, exhibiting the ‘Maltese cross’ with polarized light; they are said to be characteristic of this disease. However, their diagnostic significance has never been clearly defined. It is also well known that patients with this disease have electron‐dense periodical lamellar bodies in the cells of various organs. Several electron microscopic investigations have demonstrated such lamellar bodies in urine samples from hemizygous male patients, but it remains unclarified whether heterozygous female carriers excrete similar bodies in urine. We examined urine samples from a female carrier of ACD and two hemizygotes with the disease, as well as from three patients with nephrotic syndrome. With the light microscope, mulberry cells with ‘Maltese cross’ were detected in all six patients, suggesting that these cells are not diagnostic for ACD. With the electron microscope, concentric lamellar spheres were found in the heterozygous female carrier and two hemizygous males, but not in patients with nephrotic syndrome. This is the first report describing urinary laminated bodies in a female carrier of ACD. It is concluded that the demonstration of mulberry cells with ‘Maltese cross’ as well as concentric lamellar bodies in urine is helpful in detecting female carriers of ACD and hemizygotes as young as 7 years of age, before they exhibit definite clinical manifestations.

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma associated with recurrent panniculitis and reactive histiocytosis.

As is the case in other areas of research where advances in basic science have changed concepts in clinical medicine, it has become evident that clinical or morphological criteria alone no longer suffice to classify lymphocytic neoplasms. A definition of the subclass of the cells involved, their immunocytochemical characteristics, and their original role in the immune system appears necessary to arrive at more accurate diagnosis, prognosis, and more appropriate treatment for this group of diseases.

INFANTILE DIGITAL FIBROMATOSIS

In a case of infantile digital fibromatosis in a 5‐month‐old female baby, there were lesions on the digits, and later a tumor recurred on the sole. From histological, histochemical and electron microscopic testing, it is suggested that the specific inclusion was composed of peptide with little or no sugar or nucleic acid content and that it was an accumulation of “immature” tropocollagen. A brief review of the literature is presented.