Langerhans cells phagocytose vaginal epithelial cells undergoing apoptosis during the murine estrous cycle.

Langerhans' cells (LCs) have been studied extensively in the epidermis, where they function as antigen-presenting cells. LCs are also present in the stratified epithelia of the murine vagina and cervix, but their function at these sites is not known. Recent reports noted the association of LCs with vaginal epithelial cells undergoing apoptosis and suggested that LCs might be involved in phagocytosis of dead cells. The present study describes the ultrastructural details of this process. The results demonstrate that LCs in murine vaginal epithelium during late metestrus and early diestrus phagocytose apoptotic epithelial cells and may thereby contribute to the normal turnover of the vaginal epithelium during the estrous cycle.