Quantitative studies of the fate of epidermal Langerhans cells after X-irradiation of guinea-pig and mouse footpad skin

Langerhans cell numbers, morphology and distribution were observed in cross sections of footpad epidermis at intervals from 1 to 28 days after exposure of the hind feet of CBA/H mice or albino guinea-pigs to a single absorbed dose of 20 Gy (2000 rad) of X-rays. In mice, the number of Langerhans cells reactive with anti-macrophage F4/80 monoclonal antibody steadily declined by approximately 85% within 10 days after irradiation, consistent with previous studies, in which Langerhans cells were identified in epidermal sheets by ATPase activity or presence of Birbeck granules. Remaining Langerhans cells were exceptionally dendritic. Very few Birbeck granule-containing cells were found in murine popliteal lymph nodes before or after irradiation but damaged cells were present in superficial strata of irradiated epidermis. The morphology and number of epidermal F4/80-positive cells approached normal by 15 days after irradiation. In guinea-pigs, gradual suprabasal movement and loss of rounded, ATPase-positive Langerhans cells from the epidermis were detectable from 5 to 20 days after irradiation but the magnitude of the cell loss and redistribution was partially obscured by the simultaneous appearance of clusters of replacement Langerhans cells in the basal layer and by keratinocyte hyperplasia.