The response of Langerhans cells in the cornea to herpetic keratitis.

Langerhans cells (LC) appear to have a role in the processing of antigens presented through cutaneous surfaces. In most species LC are found in the conjunctiva and limbal epithelium but are rarely found in the central cornea. A quantitative study of corneal LC was performed in guinea pigs and rabbits with HSV-1 keratitis. Corneal epithelial sheets were removed, stained with ATPase and counted in the peripheral, paracentral and central cornea. Results in guinea pigs showed statistically significant increases of LC on days 6, 16, 21 and 28 in the paracentral and central cornea of HSV eyes. Results in rabbits showed an increase in LC on days 9, 13 and 21 in the paracentral and central cornea of HSV eyes. No LC were found in the central cornea of control eyes. The results indicate a migration of LC to the central cornea as a result of HSV keratitis.