Notch is active in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and confers pathognomonic features on dendritic cells

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease characterized by the accumulation of eponymous CD1a+ Langerin+ Langerhans-cell (LC)-like dendritic cells (DC) of largely unknown origin. Here we have performed comparative transcriptome analysis of highly purified CD207+/CD1a+ Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) cells derived from different locations and disease courses and three major human dendritic cell lineages: epidermal Langerhans cells, myeloid dendritic cells (mDC1) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in order to investigate the relationship between LCH cells and naturally occurring dendritic cells. Data obtained indicate that LCH cells form a distinct DC entity. Furthermore, we have identified transcripts that are uniquely expressed by LCH cells in comparison to LC, mDC1, and pDC, and induce LCH-specific features in human DC. Primary cells were isolated from peripheral blood (mDC1 and pDC), skin (epidermal Langerhans cells) and CD207+/CD1a+ Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) cells derived from different locations. RNA was isolated from these cells ex vivo.