Anatomical mapping of epidermal Langerhans cell densities in adults

Abstract

The densities of T6 antigen-bearing Langerhans cells in 112 biopsies of human skin from sixteen surgical out-patients and four cadavers were determined for eight anatomical regions. The regional mean densities (+/- s.e.m.) of epidermal Langerhans cells per mm2 were: head and neck, 489 +/- 27; chest, 466 +/- 22; back, 466 +/- 11; upper extremities, 458 +/- 25; lower extremities, 431 +/- 30; buttocks, 411 +/- 11; genitalia, 298 +/- 45; soles, 58 +/- 12. No statistically significant differences were found between any of these Langerhans cell densities except for that of the soles which was lower than those of all other regions (P less than 0.002). No significant differences were detected between the mean densities of patients and cadavers, Caucasians and Hispanics or males and females.