Immunological markers of Langerhans' cells in mycosis fungoides skin lesions

The patterns of two immunological markers of epidermal Langerhans' cells were compared in normal skin and mycosis fungoides (MF) skin lesions. A double-staining indirect immunofluorescence method was used. Cells suggestive of keratinocytes reacted with the anti-Ia antibodies in some cases of MF lesions, while no such pattern was seen with the thymocyte-antigen antibodies (OK T6). In other cases of MF, as in normal skin, the epidermal picture was mainly the same with the two markers. A great many of the dermal mononuclear cells in MF were reactive with the anti-Ia antibodies but only occasional dermal cells in MF and no dermal cells in normal skin stained with OK T6.