The Effect of Aging and Chronic Sun Exposure on Human Langerhans Cell Populations

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 82; no. 3; pp. 223 - 226
• Main Authors: Thiers, Bruce H., Maize, John C., Spicer, Samuel S., Cantor, Alan B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.03.1984; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphatases; Adenosinetriphosphatase; Adult; Aged; Aging; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Cell Count; Dermatology; Geriatrics; Histochemistry; Humans; Injuries of the skin. Diseases of the skin due to physical agents; Langerhans cells; Langerhans Cells - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Skin; Skin - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - etiology; Staining and Labeling; Sun; Sunlight; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Chronic; Photodermatosis; Skin disease; Senile skin; Physical agent; Langerhans cell; Cell population; Exposure; Skin; Solar radiation
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12260055

ATPase histochemistry was used to examine Langerhans cell (LC) populations in the skin of young persons with no evidence of solar damage and older adults with chronic actinically damaged skin. The number of LC was significantly decreased in the older age group. Significantly fewer LC were observed in exposed vs covered skin in the older individuals; no such disparity was noted in the younger subjects. Morphologic alterations in ATPase-positive cells were noted in some specimens, most of which were taken from the exposed skin of elderly persons. The results suggest an independent, although possibly additive, quantitative and qualitative influence of aging and chronic sun exposure on the LC population. Decreased numbers of LC in the sun-damaged skin of elderly individuals may play a critical permissive role in the development of cutaneous carcinoma.