T-ZONE HISTIOCYTES WITH S100-PROTEIN - DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION IN HUMAN FETUSES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 33  (1) , 15-22
Abstract
Histiocyte cells with S100 protein compose a cell lineage independent of the monocyte-macrophage system. Langerhans cells and indeterminate cells in the skin and oral mucosa, interdigitating cells in the T-zone of the lymph node, and other lymphoid tissues belong to this cell lineage. In addition to these cells, small S100+ cells showed morphological transition to large histiocytes. In human fetuses, a large number of S100+ lysozyme- NCA- cells first appeared in the thymic medulla by the end of the 3rd mo. of gestation and rapidly disseminated to the various lymphoid organs in accordance with the spread of T-lymphocytes during the 4th mo. of gestation. S100+ small cells were more frequent than large cells and showed more rapid dissemination in the early stage. S100- lysozyme+ NCA+ immature macrophages appeared in the liver, spleen, lymph node anlage and other tissues at the 2nd mo. of gestation, and their distribution was completely different from that of S100+ histiocytes. Fetal development of T-zone histiocytes with S100 protein supported the hypothesis that there are 2 histiocytic cell lines: one is the monocyte-macrophage system; another is the S100+ T-zone histiocyte system.

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