Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) consists of lesions composed of cells with a dendritic Langerhans cell (LC) phenotype. The clinical course of LCH ranges from spontaneous resolution to a chronic and sometimes lethal disease. We studied 25 patients with various clinical forms of the disease. In bone and chronic lesions, LCH cells had immature phenotype and function. They coexpressed LC antige...

Extracellular nucleotides and adenosine regulate endocrine pancreatic functions such as insulin secretion by Langerhans islet β-cells via the activation of specific P2 and P1 receptors. Membrane-bound ectonucleotidases regulate the local concentration of these ligands and consequently control the activation of their receptors. The objective of this study was to identify and localize the major e...

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (pLCH) and lung cancer. Resolution of pLCH may occur spontaneously, after smoking cessation or other interventions. However, despite clinicoradiological resolution, residual pulmonary Langerhans cells may be present and may lead to recurrent disease. We report the first case of pLCH with a complete histological...

A provocative study has shown that viral peptides may be transferred in vitro from epithelial cells to APC through connexin-43 gap junction channels. In support of this cross-presentation pathway, the study also reported that human dendritic cells, including Langerhans cells of skin, express connexin-43. In this report we show that if this was the case, the levels of connexin-43 are below those...