# CHARACTERIZATION & CULTURE OF HUMAN LANGERHANS CELLS

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $6,377

## Abstract

Langerhans cells (LC) are bone marrow-derived,
immunocompetent cells which comprise 2-6% of the human
epidermal cell population.  Although these cells have been
implicated as playing a major role in contact dermatitis, probably
by acting as antigen presenting cells, their exact function(s), in
particular their secretory products, is not understood.  Moreover,
although their numbers are altered in a variety of skin diseases,
e.g. lichen planus, mycosis fungoides, AID, their role (if any) in
these disorders is totally obscure.  The experiments proposed in
this grant have two major goals: 1) to define the products
produced and secreted by LC in short term cultures and to
determine which substances influence this production.  In
particular, supernatants from LC cultures will be assayed for
prostaglandin E2, interleukin-1, interleukin-2, tumor necrosis
factor and enkephalin; 2) the cells will be assayed for the
presence of mRNAs for interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor;
3) to establish long term cultures of "pure" LC.  These cells will
be used to determine whether human LC indeed are antigen
presenting cells (e.g. in contact dermatitis).  Furthermore, if, as
our preliminary results indicate, LC do not express Birbeck
granules, experiments will be performed to detect and
characterize a possible keratinocyte-generated factor which
induces these granules.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158702
- **Project number:** 1R01AR038658-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJD6G4D6TJY5
- **Principal Investigator:** VERA B MORHENN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $6,377
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1988-04-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158702

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158702, CHARACTERIZATION & CULTURE OF HUMAN LANGERHANS CELLS (1R01AR038658-01A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158702. Licensed CC0.

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