Immunohistochemical analysis of S100-positive epidermal Langerhans cells in dermatofibroma,

The objective was to immunohistologically compare the densities of S100-positive Langerhans cells in the healthy peritumoral epidermis against those in the epidermis overlying dermatofibroma (20 cases), using antibodies against the S100 molecule (the immunophenotypic hallmark of Langerhans cells). The control group (normal, healthy skin) included ten healthy age and sex-matched individuals who underwent skin biopsies for benign skin lesions. A significantly high density of Langerhans cells was observed both in the epidermis of the healthy skin (6.00 ± 0.29) and the peritumoral epidermis (6.44 ± 0.41) vs. those in the epidermis overlying the tumor (1.44 ± 0.33, p< 0.05). The quantitative deficit of Langerhans cells in the epidermis overlying dermatofibroma may be a possible factor in its development.
Source: Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia - Category: Dermatology Source Type: research