Birbeck granule

BCF Basophil chemotactic factor B-CFC Basophil colony-forming cell BCG Bacillus Calmette-Guerin BCNU l,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-l-nitrosourea bFGF Basic fibroblast growth fiictor Bg Birbeck granules BHR Bronchial hyperresponsiveness BHT Butylated hydroxyroluene b.i.d. Bis in die (twice a day)... 

Unlike their counterparts in skin, the epidermal Lange-rhans cell (LC) population, respiratory tract DC populations display limited expression of intracellular Birbeck granules (Bg). These are found only occasionally in sections of normal lung tissue in mouse and human lung and airway tissue samples (Hanau etaL, 1985 Sertl etal., 1987 Soler et al., 1989) and are virtually absent in rat (P.G. Holt, unpublished). They are found in increased frequency in airway tissues of human smokers (Soler et 0.1., 1989), which suggests that Bg expression may require local stimulation for initial induction (Hanau et al., 1985). 

Disease Characteristic Histoiogy CD68 (KP1) S-100 CDla Birbeck Granules (EM)... 

Fig. 2.7 ME, Langerhans cell, high magnification showing the birbeck granule...

Richters et al. [51] observed that in explants of human normal skin 15-20 % presented Birbeck granules [LC], whereas most of the cells had the characteristics of dermal DC. It was also found that these cells had a potent allo-stimulating capacity in vitro [mixed lymphocyte reaction, MLR]. 

Barnicot, N. A. and Birbeck, M. S. C., The electron microscopy of human melanocytes and melanin granules, in The Biology of Hair Growth, Montagna, W. and Ellis, R. A., Eds., Academic Press, New York, 1958, 239. 

Seiji M, Fitzpatrick TB, Simpson RT, Birbeck MSC (1963) Chemical Composition and Terminology of Specialized Organelles (Melanosomes and Melanin Granules) in Mammalian Melanocytes. Nature 197 1082... 

Langerhans cells are immunocompetent and recognize exogenous antigens which arrive in the epidermis. They have a notched nucleus and some specific granules, the Birbeck bodies Fig. 2.6. 

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