Langerhans cells (LC) are a unique population of dendritic cells (DC) found in the epidermis where they can be identified by the expression of CD1a, E-cadherin and cytoplasmic Birbeck granules (BG) as their hallmark. PMID: 12955536

Acetylcholinesterase (AchE)

• qualitative observations and direct pairwise testing showed that AChE was superior to the MoAb in detecting Langerhans cells. PMID: 9094177

ATPase

• A technique which enables good visualization of the membranous ATPase activity of epidermal Langerhans cells is described. PMID: 2427594
• The ATPase staining procedures described in this present study are ultrastructurally specific for the Langerhans cell. PMID: 6218208

CD1a (Leu 6)

• a specific marker of Langerhans cells. PMID: 1370420
• a langerhans cell marker on human monocytes which have recently been recognized as a precursor of Langerhans cells. PMID: 7540833

E-Cadherin

• a homophilic adhesion molecule that mediates adhesion of LC to keratinocytes in vitro, represents a DC differentiation antigen characteristic of LC and lineage-related cells (skin-associated LN DC). PMID: 7957569
• E-cadherin alone is not a reliable marker to specifically identify in vitro-generated Langerhans cells (LC). PMID: 12955536

Fascin

• a 55-kd actin-bundling protein, represents a highly selective marker for dendritic cells of lymphoid tissues and peripheral blood and is involved in the formation of dendritic processes in maturing epidermal Langerhans cells. PMID: 12219775

Fc gamma-receptor (FcR)

• a functional marker on epidermal Langerhans' cells in situ. PMID: 2481927

HLA-DM

• is present on the cell surface of LC, suggesting that HLA-DM may interact with HLA-DR on the surface to induce peptide loading. PMID: 9879837

HLA-DQ

• The HLA-DQ molecules are not internalized or recycled by the B cells, and a limited internalization of these molecules takes place in Langerhans cells. PMID: 3275214

HLA-DR (Ia)

• Expressed on cell surface of Langerhans cells (LC) in human buccal mucosa and skin. PMID: 2452627
• appears as a good functional marker. PMID: 2788648
• The localization of HLA-DR molecules may indicate that these molecules take part in the recycling process of the plasma membrane in B cells and Langerhans cells. PMID: 3275214

KL-6

• marker for pulmonary involvement in Langerhans cell histiocytosis in infants. PMID: 15342985

Langerin (CD207)

• used as specific marker to distinguish Langerhans cells (LCs) from other dendritic cell (DC) subsets. PMID: 14991060

MHC Class II

• Ultrastructural examination of class II MHC+ cells revealed the presence of a Langerhans cell-like/indeterminant cell subset with indented nuclei, dendritic morphology, active cytoplasm, and dense intermediate filaments. PMID: 7963656

MT1

• serves as an additional marker for Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and, together with S-100 protein, would make up a diagnostic panel of antibodies for LCH to be used on routine paraffin-embedded sections. PMID: 2190198

NA1/34

• a murine monoclonal antibody directed against the CD1a surface antigen expressed on normal Langerhans cells, cortical thymocytes, and on lesional cells in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). PMID: 7525914
• the anti-CD1a monoclonal antibody, NA1/34, offers advantages in the prognosis and staging of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, in a human setting. PMID: 10620128

Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE)

• is almost as sensitive as, but more specific than, S100 protein in discriminating Langerhans-cell from non-Langerhans cell cutaneous histiocytoses, and that it consequently represents a useful adjunct in the immunohistochemical diagnosis of histiocytic skin diseases. PMID: 1648331

OKT6

• a marker of epidermal Langerhans cells, also expressed on indeterminate cells. PMID: 7035574

S-100

• one of the nervous-system-specific proteins, has been shown to be a useful marker for the epidermal Langerhans' cells. PMID: 2735831

T6 (CD1)

• is superior to Ia (HLA-DR) as a marker for Langerhans cells and indeterminate cells in normal epidermis. PMID: 6337218
• a highly specific marker for noncorneal Langerhans cells (LC). PMID: 1714429

Other LC Markers

• Langerhans cells (LC) are a unique population of dendritic cells (DC) found in the epidermis where they can be identified by the expression of cytoplasmic Birbeck granules (BG) as their hallmark. PMID: 12955536
• the L-DOPA HF represents a valuable method for detecting LC in the human normal epidermis. PMID: 2113342