Chandavarkar Vidyadevi, Mishra Mithilesh N, Sangeetha R, Premalatha B R
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dental Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Department of Oral Pathology, Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Contemp Clin Dent. 2020 Jul-Sep;11(3):211-216. doi: 10.4103/ccd.ccd_4_20. Epub 2020 Nov 26.
Description of Langerhans' cells (LCs) as an important antigen-presenting cells responsible for detecting the antigens, recruiting T-cells, and thereby initiating the immune response. An adequate response of the mucosal immune system is essential to protect the mucosa against pathological conditions. Hence, a detailed review was planned about this unique antigen-presenting cell.
A literature search of the electronic databases included the MEDLINE, EBSCOHOST, PUBMED, and hand searches of references retrieved were undertaken using the following MeSH terms "Langerhans cells," "LCs in Oral Lichen Planus," "Langerhans cell histiocytosis," "LCs and HIV," "LCs in Periodontitis."
LCs are present suprabasally in the epithelium of oral mucosa and in the epidermis of the skin. The role played by LCs though not fully elucidated, but several research studies indicate that these cells are involved in the pathogenesis of many oral diseases. In this article, the historical perspective, structure, function, origin, and phenotypic expressions of LCs are discussed in detail. The current understanding on the role of LCs in various oral lesions and its immunological characteristics are discussed.
LCs act as immune mediator cells, tumor cells, vectors of infected cells, and phagocytic cells. Further studies could bolster the knowledge about the role of Langerhans cells in the immune response of various oral diseases and thereby provide diagnostic tools and help for prognostic evaluation. This review illuminates the pivotal role of Langerhans cells and its immune surveillance as a "Sentinels" of the oral mucosa.
描述朗格汉斯细胞（LCs）作为重要的抗原呈递细胞，负责检测抗原、招募T细胞，从而启动免疫反应。黏膜免疫系统的充分反应对于保护黏膜免受病理状况影响至关重要。因此，计划对这种独特的抗原呈递细胞进行详细综述。
对电子数据库进行文献检索，包括MEDLINE、EBSCOHOST、PUBMED，并对手检参考文献进行检索，使用以下医学主题词：“朗格汉斯细胞”、“口腔扁平苔藓中的LCs”、“朗格汉斯细胞组织细胞增多症”、“LCs与HIV”、“牙周炎中的LCs”。
LCs存在于口腔黏膜上皮的基底层上方以及皮肤表皮中。尽管LCs所起的作用尚未完全阐明，但多项研究表明这些细胞参与了许多口腔疾病的发病机制。本文详细讨论了LCs的历史背景、结构、功能、起源和表型表达。还讨论了目前对LCs在各种口腔病变中的作用及其免疫学特征的认识。
LCs可作为免疫调节细胞、肿瘤细胞、感染细胞载体和吞噬细胞。进一步的研究可以加强对朗格汉斯细胞在各种口腔疾病免疫反应中作用的认识，从而提供诊断工具并有助于预后评估。本综述阐明了朗格汉斯细胞及其作为口腔黏膜“哨兵”的免疫监视的关键作用。
