S100 protein-positive Langerhans cells in 80 dentigerous cysts

Background/purpose: Langerhans cells (LCs) are antigen-presenting cells. This study assessed the LC counts in 80 dentigerous cysts (DCs). Materials and methods: The S100-positive LC numbers in the lining epithelia and subepithelial connective tissues were counted at 80 DC sites without inflammation, 33 DC sites with mild/moderate inflammation, and 9 DC sites with severe inflammation from 80 DC specimens. Results: The mean S100-positive LC counts in the lining epithelia and subepithelial connective tissues increased significantly from no inflammation (0.6 ± 0.6 and 0.7 ± 0.6 cell/high-power field or HPF, respectively) through mild/moderate inflammation (8.1 ± 2.0 and 4.5 ± 2.3 cells/HPF, respectively) to severe inflammation DC sites (21.0 ± 7.0 and 11.1 ± 6.5 cells/HPF, respectively; P-value 50 μm) group (8.6 ± 7.1 and 4.8 ± 4.5 cells/HPF, respectively) than in the thinner lining epithelium (â¦50 μm) group (0.6 ± 0.6 and 0.6 ± 0.6 cells/HPF, respectively; both P-valuesÂ