Langerhans cell
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Langerhans' cells are immature dendritic cells containing large granules called Birbeck granules. On infection of an area of skin, the local Langerhans' cells will take up and process microbial antigens before travelling to the T-cell areas in the cortex of the draining lymph node and maturing to become fully-functional antigen-presenting cells.
Generally, dendritic cells in tissue (such as Langerhans' cells) are active in the capture, uptake and processing of antigens. Once dendritic cells arrive in secondary lymphoid tissue however, they lose these properties while gaining the capacity to interact with naive T-cells.
In the rare disease Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH), an excess of these cells is produced, which can cause damage to skin, bone and other organs.
Langerhans' cells are derived from the cellular differentiation of monocytes with the marker "Gr-1" (also known as "Ly-6c/G"). The differentiation requires stimulation by colony stimulating factor-1 (PMID 16444257).
The inner surface of the foreskin, especially the downpart, contains Langerhans' cells with HIV receptors; these cells are likely to be the primary point of viral entry.[1]
