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Ultrastructural studies of allergic contact dermatitis in man

Infiltrating cells at the earliest phase on spongiotic bulla formation

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Summary

The kind and fine structure of mononuclear cells appearing in the epidermis at about 6 h of allergic contact dermatitis were examined by electron microscopy. They were monocytes and lymphocytes, the number being about equal. The ultrastructure of monocytes was that described for normal ones in blood, and apparently actively moving, streching the intercellular connections of the keratinocytes. Lymphocytes displayed a round or oval nucleus with some electron-dense cytoplasm which contained ribosomes and polysomes but only occasional mitochondria and Golgi complexes.

Zusammenfassung

Die Art und Feinstruktur mononuklearer Zellen, die bei allergischer Kontaktdermatitis nach ungefähr 6 h in der Epidermis auftreten, wurden im Elektronenmikroskop untersucht. Es handelte sich um Monocyten und Lymphocyten, die in ungefähr gleicher Zahl auftraten. Die Ultrastruktur der Monocyten war die gleiche wie die normaler Monocyten im Blut. Offenbar in aktiver Bewegung, erweitern sie die intercellulären Verbindungen der Keratinocyten. Die Lymphocyten zeigten einen runden oder ovalen Kern mit einigem elektronendichten Cytoplasma, das Ribosomen und Polysomen enthielt, aber nur fallweise Mitochondrien und Golgi-Komplexe.

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Komura, J., Oguchi, M., Aoshima, T. et al. Ultrastructural studies of allergic contact dermatitis in man. Arch Dermatol Res 267, 283–290 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403849

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