[Research on the mechanism of epidermal Langerhans cells on bone destruction in cholesteatoma].

By means of ATPase stain and avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) immunohistochemical stain with HLA-Dr monoclonal antibody, it revealed that large amount of LCs was also observed, besides lymphocytes. Lymphocyte subpopulations OKT3 OKT4 OKT8 were also studied immunohistochemically. Positive OKT3 OKT4 OKT8 cells were found in the epidermis and submucosa tissue of cholesteatoma. In epidermis, the positive cells were few in number and scattered here and there, however a large number of positive cells were present in the submucosa. In comparison, OKT8 positive cells were more predominate than OKT4 positive cells. According to the result of the this study, we consider that LCs and T lymphocyte interplay for the production of prostaglandins and lymphokines, which may play an important role in mastoid bone destruction.