Langhans
giant cells are large cells found in
granulomatous
A granuloma is an aggregation of macrophages that forms in response to chronic inflammation. This occurs when the immune system attempts to isolate foreign substances that it is otherwise unable to eliminate. Such substances include infectious ...
conditions.
They are formed by the fusion of
epithelioid cells (
macrophage
Macrophages (abbreviated as M φ, MΦ or MP) ( el, large eaters, from Greek ''μακρός'' (') = large, ''φαγεῖν'' (') = to eat) are a type of white blood cell of the immune system that engulfs and digests pathogens, such as cancer cel ...
s), and contain
nuclei arranged in a horseshoe-shaped pattern in the cell periphery.
Although traditionally their presence was associated with
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...
, they are not specific for tuberculosis or even for mycobacterial disease. In fact, they are found in nearly every form of granulomatous disease, regardless of etiology.
Terminology
Langhans giant cells are named after
Theodor Langhans
Theodor Langhans (28 September 1839 – 22 October 1915) was a German pathologist who was a native of Usingen, Duchy of Nassau.
He studied medicine at the University of Heidelberg, and at the University of Göttingen under Friedrich Gustav Jak ...
(1839–1915), a German pathologist.
Causes
In 2012, a research paper showed that when activated CD4+ T cells and
monocyte
Monocytes are a type of leukocyte or white blood cell. They are the largest type of leukocyte in blood and can differentiate into macrophages and conventional dendritic cells. As a part of the vertebrate innate immune system monocytes also inf ...
s are in close contact, interaction of
CD40-
CD40L between these two cells and subsequent
IFNγ
Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is a dimerized soluble cytokine that is the only member of the type II class of interferons. The existence of this interferon, which early in its history was known as immune interferon, was described by E. F. Wheelock ...
secretion by the T cells causes upregulation and secretion of fusion-related molecule
DC-STAMP (dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein) by the monocytes, which results in LGC formation.
Clinical significance
Langhans giant cells are often found in transbronchial lung biopsies or lymph node biopsies in patients with
sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis (also known as ''Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease'') is a disease involving abnormal collections of inflammatory cells that form lumps known as granulomata. The disease usually begins in the lungs, skin, or lymph nodes. Less commonly af ...
. They are also commonly found in tuberculous granulomas of tuberculosis.
References
External links
*
Histology at ohio-state.edu
{{Blood
Cell biology