[Dendritic antigen-presenting cells of the oral mucosa in health and in pathological conditions].

Oral mucosa contains a system of dendritic antigen-presenting cells which provide its specific immune defence. These cells are found both in mucosal epithelium and lamina propria and possess specific ultrastructural, cytochemical, immunocytochemical and functional properties. Langerhans cells are the most numerous and well-studied population of antigen-presenting cells in oral mucosa. However, epithelium and lamina propria harbour other types of dendritic cells. Dendritic cells trap antigens process them and provide them to lymphocytes; they also influence other mucosal cell types. This review summarizes recent data on distribution, morphologic and functional characteristics of dendritic antigen-presenting cells of the oral mucosa in health and in some pathological conditions. A possible role of these cells in pathogenesis of some diseases is discussed.