Mark Roger Darling1, Nan Su2, Sherry Masen3, Paul Kwon3, Daniel Fortino3, Taylor McKerlie3, Miriam Grushka2. 1. Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Pathology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada. Electronic address: Mark.darling@schulich.uwo.ca. 2. Private practice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Pathology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine whether geographic tongue (GT) is an antigen-driven condition by assessing Langerhans cell numbers and the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DP, -DQ, and -DR in the epithelium of GT and to assess peripheral nerve status for any possible damage/injury association by quantifying neurite area in connective tissue in GT. STUDY DESIGN: Randomly selected samples of GT were examined by using routine immunoperoxidase staining methods to S100 protein, neurofilament, CD1a, and HLA class II. The Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess statistical significance. RESULTS: Langerhans cell numbers were found to be increased in GT. HLA expression was also seen in Langerhans cells and inflammatory cells and in the spinous layer and parabasal epithelial cells in 2 samples of GT. Total nerve tissue, based on area measurements, was not significantly different between GT and control tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in Langerhans cells suggests that GT is a condition that is likely driven by an unknown external antigen. Peripheral nerve damage was not apparent, suggesting that this is not a mechanism whereby patients with GT become symptomatic.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine whether geographic tongue (GT) is an antigen-driven condition by assessing Langerhans cell numbers and the expression of humanleukocyte antigen (HLA)-DP, -DQ, and -DR in the epithelium of GT and to assess peripheral nerve status for any possible damage/injury association by quantifying neurite area in connective tissue in GT. STUDY DESIGN: Randomly selected samples of GT were examined by using routine immunoperoxidase staining methods to S100 protein, neurofilament, CD1a, and HLA class II. The Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess statistical significance. RESULTS: Langerhans cell numbers were found to be increased in GT. HLA expression was also seen in Langerhans cells and inflammatory cells and in the spinous layer and parabasal epithelial cells in 2 samples of GT. Total nerve tissue, based on area measurements, was not significantly different between GT and control tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in Langerhans cells suggests that GT is a condition that is likely driven by an unknown external antigen. Peripheral nerve damage was not apparent, suggesting that this is not a mechanism whereby patients with GT become symptomatic.
Authors: Ekaterini Maria Lyras; Karin Zimmermann; Lisa Katharina Wagner; Dorothea Dörr; Christoph S N Klose; Cornelius Fischer; Steffen Jung; Simon Yona; Avi-Hai Hovav; Werner Stenzel; Steffen Dommerich; Thomas Conrad; Achim Leutz; Alexander Mildner Journal: Elife Date: 2022-06-24 Impact factor: 8.713