Langerhans cells (LC) are the principal antigen-presenting cells (APC) of squamous epithelia. We have previously shown that freshly isolated LC (fLC) are able to deliver endocytosed membrane MHC class II molecules into acidic environments, and that this capacity is lost when LC are placed in culture (cLC). Inasmuch as processing of antigens requires their passage through acidic compartments, we undertook the present study to examine the ability of fLC and cLC to take up acridine orange, and to identify proton-translocating ATPases in these cells.
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