The phenotype of murine Langerhans cells from skin to lymph node.

Langerhans cells can be induced to migrate into draining lymph nodes after topical application of antigen. During this migration the cells undergo phenotypical changes which are directly related to the function they exert at the different locations. Here the results of kinetic studies as well as phenotypic characterization of Langerhans cells during migration are described and discussed in view of the apparent differences between Langerhans cells in the skin and dendritic cells in lymph nodes.