, . 181: 251 (1997)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

MONOKINE EXPRESSION IN LANGERHANS’ CELL HISTIOCYTOSIS

In a recent issue of the Journal of Pathology (Vol. 179,pp. 60–65, 1996), Foss et al. state that ‘with theexception of the immunohistological demonstration ofGM-CSF, expression of cytokines in Langerhans’ cellhistiocytosis has not so far been investigated’. They haveevidently overlooked our study of transforming growthfactor â1 in Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis, no doubtbecause our cases of this disease formed some of the‘other lung disorders’ in the title of our paper.1The localization of tumour necrosis factor á to the

Langerhans’ cells by Foss et al. using in situ hybridiza-tion is similar to the distribution of transforming growthfactor â that we demonstrated in Langerhans’ cell

histiocytosis by immunohistochemistry. Transforminggrowth factor â production by activated Langerhans’cells might be concerned with the scarring that marksthe late stages of this disease.

B. CImperial College at the Brompton

London SW3 6NP, U.K.

REFERENCE1. Corrin B, Butcher D, McAnulty BJ, et al. Immunohistochemical localiza-

tion of transforming growth factor-â(1) in the lungs of patients withsystemic sclerosis, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis and other lung disorders.Histopathology 1994; 24: 145–150.

AUTHORS’ REPLY

We would like to thank Dr Corrin for his interest inour publication.1 He draws attention to the fact that wefailed to mention his previous work on the expressionof transforming growth factor-â(1) in pulmonaryLangerhans’ cell histiocytosis.2 As suggested by DrCorrin, the reason for not quoting his work lies in thefact that Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis does not appearin the title of the paper and that his work was not foundin a literature search with the items ‘Langerhans’ cellhistiocytosis’ and ‘cytokines’.The results obtained by these authors are indeed

interesting. In conjunction with our data, they maysuggest that two fibrogenic mechanisms are at work inLCH: expression of TNF-á, which is known to bemitogenic for fibroblasts,3 and TGF-â, which enhancescollagen synthesis.4

H-D F H SInstitute for Pathology

Universitätsklinikum Benjamin FranklinHindenburgdamm 30

12200 Berlin, Germany

REFERENCES1. Foss HD, Herbst H, Araujo I, et al. Monokine expression in Langerhans’

cell histiocytosis and sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy(Rosai–Dorfman disease). J Pathol 1996; 179: 60–66.

2. Corrin B, Butcher D, McAnulty BJ, et al. Immunohistochemical localiza-tion of transforming growth factor-â(1) in the lungs of patients withsystemic sclerosis, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis and other lung disorders.Histopathology 1994; 24: 145–150.

3. Semenzato G. Tumour necrosis factor: a cytokine with multiple biologicalactivities. Br J Cancer 1990; 61: 354–361.

4. Kovacs EJ. Fibrogenic cytokines: the role of immune mediators in thedevelopment of scar tissue. Immunol Today 1991; 12: 17–23.

? 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.