Summary
The occurrence of cells resembling mammalian Langerhans cells in the avian epidermis was studied by ATPase histochemistry, Ia immunoreactivity and electron microscopy. The existence of MHC class II antigen-(Ia) expressing, ATPase-positive dendritic cells, which are ultrastructurally similar to mammalian Langerhans cells except for the absence of Birbeck granules, was demonstrated. These cells may be a basic component of the immune system of birds.
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Akhter, N., Kobayashi, M. & Hoshino, T. Avian epidermis contains ATPase- and Ia-positive Langerhans-like cells. Cell Tissue Res 271, 103–106 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297547
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297547