Langerhans cells
Epidermal immune scouts
Langerhans cells are immune cells found in the outer layer of skin and other tissues that contact the external environment.
Named for the German physician who discovered them, they function as sentinels—capturing foreign substances and presenting them to other immune cells to trigger a response.
They play a role in allergic reactions and skin conditions like contact dermatitis.
Branching like a tree
- MHC class IIPeptide-presenting surface proteins
- phagocytosisCellular ingestion of particles
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- interleukinsImmune cell signaling proteins
migration · lymph nodes · toll-like receptors · pattern recognition
Skin reaction from irritant exposure
- allergic responseImmune system's mistaken attack
- graft rejectionImmune destruction of transplant
- psoriasisImmune system attacks skin cells
- skin cancerMalignancy of the dermis
eczema · photoaging · transplant rejection · autoimmunity · inflammation · hypersensitivity
Pigment-producing skin cells
- epidermalConcerning the outer skin
- dermisLiving tissue under epidermis
- intercellularBetween individual cells
- skin barrierProtective outer layer
Surgical tissue sample removal
- electron microscopyImaging via focused particle beams
- cell cultureLaboratory technique for growing tissue
dendritic
Branching like a tree
- MHC class IIPeptide-presenting surface proteins
- phagocytosisCellular ingestion of particles
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
interleukins · migration · lymph nodes · toll-like receptors · pattern recognition
contact dermatitis
Skin reaction from irritant exposure
- allergic responseImmune system's mistaken attack
- graft rejectionImmune destruction of transplant
- psoriasisImmune system attacks skin cells
skin cancer · eczema · photoaging · transplant rejection · autoimmunity · inflammation · hypersensitivity
melanocytes
Pigment-producing skin cells
- epidermalConcerning the outer skin
- dermisLiving tissue under epidermis
- intercellularBetween individual cells
skin biopsy
Surgical tissue sample removal
- electron microscopyImaging via focused particle beams
- cell cultureLaboratory technique for growing tissue
- skin anatomydermis, epidermis, hypodermis, subcutis, cutis
- Anatomical EponymsAchilles tendon, Adam's apple, Fallopian tube, Fallopian tubes, Pacinian corpuscles
- APCsmacrophages
- phagocytesphagocytes, macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, microglia
- skin cellsmelanocytes, melanocyte
- cell biologycell membrane, cell division, cytoplasm, ribosome, mitochondria