α6 Integrins Are Required for Langerhans Cell Migration from the Epidermis

Topical exposure of mice to chemical allergens results in the migration of epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) from the skin and their accumulation as immunostimulatory dendritic cells (DCs) in draining lymph nodes. Epidermal cell–derived cytokines have been implicated in the maturation and migration of LCs, but the adhesion molecules that regulate LC migration have not been studied. We hypothesized that integrin-mediated interactions with extracellular matrix components of the skin and lymph node may regulate LC/DC migration. We found that α6 integrins and α4 integrins were differentially expressed by epidermal LCs and lymph node DCs. A majority of LCs (70%) expressed the α6 integrin subunit, whereas DCs did not express α6 integrins. In contrast, the α4 integrin subunit was expressed at high levels on DCs but at much lower levels on LCs. The anti-α6 integrin antibody, GoH3, which blocks binding to laminin, completely prevented the spontaneous migration of LCs from skin explants in vitro and the rapid migration of LCs from mouse ear skin induced after intradermal administration of TNF-α in vivo. GoH3 also reduced the accumulation of DCs in draining lymph nodes by a maximum of 70% afte