Distribution of Langerhans cells in skin lesions of MRL/l mice

B lymphocytes mediate Fas-dependent cytotoxicity in MRL/lpr mice

The Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) pathway is one of the two major effector mechanisms of T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. To prevent nonspecific killing by lymphoid cells, FasL expression on the cell surface of immune effector cells is strictly regulated. However, MRL/lpr autoimmune-prone mice massively overexpress FasL on their T lymphocytes, which render them able to kill Fas+ targets in vitro and in vivo. It is surprising that we show in the present work that B lymphocytes purified from MRL/lpr spleen cells express FasL to the same extent as T cells at the mRNA and protein level. These B cells are potent cytotoxic effectors against Fas+ but not Fas- targets. The B lymphocyte effectors were used ex vivo without any in vitro activation by B cell stimuli. Furthermore, we found that MRL/lpr B lymphocytes have the same cytotoxic potential as natural killer cells, which have been characterized as potent, Fas-mediated, cytotoxic effectors. The level of membrane-anchored FasL increases with the size of the B cell and cell-surface activation marker CD69 expression, indicating that the expression of FasL is up-regulated in parallel with the activation state of the B cell. The activated B cell population contained the major cytotoxic activity, and a minor part was associated with CD138/Syndecan-1+ plasma cells.

Dendritic cells in cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a clue to the pathogenesis of lesions

In view of the critical role of dendritic cells in immune mediated skin diseases, we have investigated the membrane antigen patterns and ultrastructure of cutaneous dendritic cells in eight patients with chronic discoid lupus erythematosus and five with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. In the lesional epidermis, the expression of HLA-DR antigens by epidermal dendritic cells was reduced, as compared with perilesional, clinically normal skin. In addition, only few CD1a+ dendritic cells (Langerhans' cells), along with some CD11c+ and CD14+ cells (presumable precursors of Langerhans' cells), were found in atrophic areas of lesional epidermis. In contrast, the number of Langerhans' cells in non-atrophic areas of lesional epidermis was similar to that in perilesional skin. On electronmicroscopy, epidermal Langerhans' cells appeared depleted of organelles and dendrites and contained tubuloreticular inclusions. In the lesional dermis, both CD1a+ and CD36+ dendritic cells were found, associated with CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, respectively. Moreover, CD11c+ and CD14+ cells were found around capillaries in the papillary dermis on electronmicroscopy. Indeterminate cells (dendritic cells with features of Langerhans' cell lineage, but apparently without Birbeck granules) and dendritic macrophages were found, associated with lymphocytes and mast cells. No cells with intermediate/transitional features between these two dendritic cell types were found. Conversely, peculiar dendritic cells--with short and blunt dendrites and cytoplasm containing many flat, rough cisternae, moderately well developed Golgi apparatus and no lysosomes--were found in the same location as the CD11c+ and CD14+ cells identified by light microscopy. These findings might be interpreted as follows: 1 the alterations in cytological differentiation and expression of functionally meaningful molecules by epidermal Langerhans' cells in cutaneous lupus erythematosus lesions suggest an impairment of their immunological efficiency; 2 in the lesional dermis of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, a CD4+ T-cell/CD1a+ dendritic cell-based, delayed-type immune response is possibly modulated by a suppressor T-cell circuit in which CD36+ dendritic cells may act as accessory cells; 3 CD11c+ and CD14+ cells with peculiar ultrastructure are possible precursors of both CD1a+ indeterminate cells and CD36+ dermal dendrocytes in the dermis.

Characterization of cutaneous infiltrates in MRL/lpr mice monitored from onset to the full development of lupus erythematosus-like skin lesions

The skin is a primary site injured in lupus erythematosus (LE), but it is still controversial whether the injury is due to cells of the mononuclear infiltrate and which immunocompetent cells play the major role in the development of cutaneous LE. To better characterize the role of immunocompetent cells, we performed an immunohistochemical examination of these cells in LE-like skin lesions in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice. Skin lesions in 60 female MRL/lpr mice were monitored from onset to full development. Skin specimens from each stage were stained for epidermal Ia+ Langerhans cells (Ia(+)-LC), for Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells (Thy-1+DEC), and for the phenotype of the mononuclear cell infiltrates. The numbers of Ia(+)-LC and Thy-1+DEC were decreased markedly in the skin lesions at the later stage. However, the numbers of Ia(+)-LC were increased significantly in the central portion of lesions at an early stage and in the peripheral portion of lesions later. L3T4+ cells were predominant, and the L3T4/Lyt-2 ratio was high in dermal infiltrates at an early stage. With advancing stage, the L3T4/Lyt-2 ratio gradually decreased in dermal infiltrates, whereas the Thy-1.2/Lyt-2 ratio in lymph nodes was reversed. L3T4+ cells were especially predominant in dermal infiltrates under the epidermis with increased numbers of Ia(+)-LC. This immunohistochemical analysis of a mouse model of cutaneous LE revealed changes in immunocompetent cell populations with the evolution of skin lesions, and we conclude that Ia(+)-LC and Thy-1+DEC, as well as L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ cells, may play pathogenic roles in the development of skin lesions.

Evaluation of ATPase-positive Langerhans' cells in skin lesions of lupus erythematosus and experimentally induced inflammations

We examined the time-dependent dynamics of epidermal Langerhans' cells (LC) in human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr(MRL/lpr) mice, and in various experimental cutaneous inflammations, such as the Arthus reaction, dinitrochlorobenzene allergic dermatitis, and croton oil primary irritant dermatitis, in order to clarify the pathomechanisms of lupus skin lesions. The numbers of LC in untreated SLE patients with newly developed skin lesions decreased in the central lesional sites and increased significantly in the peripheral lesional sites. In MRL/lpr mice, the number of LC increased significantly in the central lesional sites during the initial stage and increased in the peripheral lesional sites and decreased in the central lesional sites 2-4 weeks after the onset of skin lesions. In contrast, with experimental cutaneous inflammations of guinea pigs, the increase in numbers of LC in the peripheral lesional sites was not significant during the time course of the reaction. These results suggest that the increased numbers of LC during the active and early stages of skin lesions in human SLE and MRL/lpr mice are closely related to the specific spontaneous development of skin lesions, unlike the dynamics of LC in experimental cutaneous inflammations.