Cells containing Langerhans cell granules in human lymph nodes of "atypical hyperplasia" with fatal outcome and leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.

Langerhans cell granules could be found in atypical histiocytes in lymph nodes of three patients with "atypical hyperplasia" with fatal outcome and one patient with leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. These atypical histiocytes might be derived from immature mesenchymal cells in lymph nodes and the Langerhans cell granules might be induced in these cells by a particular condition. Only one of the Langerhans cell granules seemingly associated with the plasma membrane could be observed in these atypical histiocytes and all of the granules were seen within the cytoplasm. Quite a number of Langerhans cell granules were located near the Golgi apparatus. Several atypical granules very similar to the Langerhans cell granules could also be observed in these atypical histiocytes. These Langerhans cell granules were assumed to be directly derived from the Golgi apparatus and/or derived from the atypical granules which were secreted from the Golgi apparatus. The relationship between the Langerhans cell granules and the microtubules must also be considered, because Langerhans cell granules were found near the centrioles and microtubules.