Langerhans cells in the gingival epithelium

Langerhans cells (LCs) were specifically demonstrated by monoclonal antibody OKT 6. In healthy gingival tissue LCs were mainly seen in stratum spinosum of the surface epithelium. They had small nuclei and with long cell processes. The LCs of oral epithelium in marginal gingivitis and adult periodontitis tissue were more in numbers than in healthy tissue. In juvenile periodontitis tissue LCs numbers seemed to be increased obviously in comparison to the healthy tissue. The LCs were round and often located in both deep spinous and basal layers. These results demonstrate that LCs play an important role in the local immune response of the periodontal tissues.