HLA‐Dr‐Expressing Langerhans'‐Like Cells in Vaginal and Cervical Epithelium

Abstract

Sections of ethanol‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue specimens from human vagina and exocervix were stained by an indirect immunofluorescence method with a rabbit antiserum to HLA‐DR antigens. A specific staining of cells having a dendritic appearance were seen. The cells were randomly distributed, mainly in the parabasal cell‐layer of the stratified squamous epithelium. The number of dendritic cells was 1‐3% of all cells in the cervical epithelium and 1‐5% of the cells in the vaginal epithelium. Most probably these cells are Langerhans' cells.