Langerhans cells have long been considered to be prototypic immature dendritic cells. Results of experiments involving genetically engineered mice provide surprising new insights into Langerhans cell function in vivo. Nishibu and colleagues illustrate how these approaches can be used to visualize Langerhans cells in vivo in real time, and to assess aspects of their behavior in unperturbed skin and after activation.
Dermatology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1908, USA. udey@helix.nih.gov
