Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
9264172 Human Immunology 2005 7 Pages PDF
Abstract
By means of flow cytometry, we demonstrate that a subpopulation of cells in the basal layer of the human epidermis has undetectable levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule. The percentage of MHC class I-negative cells in the basal layer ranged 0.5%-2%. MHC class I-negative cells were characterized by small size (low forward scatter) and low granularity (low side scatter). Upon culturing of MHC class I-negative cells, increase of MHC class I expression was observed. This expression was lower than the expression of MHC class I molecule both in cultured MHC class I-positive cells and in ex vivo keratinocytes. Furthermore, stimulation of MHC class I-negative keratinocytes with interferon gamma (IFN-γ) did not bring about further increase in MHC class I expression. MHC class I-negative cells were identified as keratinocytes as they expressed keratin 14 and formed keratinocyte colonies in vitro.
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Life Sciences Immunology and Microbiology Immunology
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