Hypospadias are among the most common genital malformations. Langerhans Cells (LCs) play a pivotal role in HIV and HPV infection. The migration of LC precursors to skin coincides with the embryonic period of hypospadias development and genetic alterations leading to the formation of hypospadias impact the development of ectodermally derived tissues. We hypothesized that this might be associated with a difference in frequency or morphology of epidermal and dermal LCs in hypospadias patients. A total of 43 patients from two centers were prospectively included into this study after parental consent and ethics approval. Epidermal and dermal sheets were prepared from skin samples of 26 patients with hypospadias, 13 patients without penile malformations and 4 patients with penile malformations other than hypospadias. Immunofluorescence staining of sheets was performed with anti-HLA-DR-FITC and anti-CD207/Langerin-A594 antibodies. Skin sections from 11 patients without penile malformation and 11 patients with hypospadias were stained for Langerin. Frequencies as well as morphology and distribution of epidermal and dermal LCs on sheets and sections were microscopically evaluated. Cell counts were compared by unpaired t-tests. There was no difference in frequency of epidermal LCs, Neither on sheets (873 ± 61 vs. 940 ± 84LCs/mm2, p = 0.522) nor on sections (32 ± 3 vs. 30 ± 2LCs/mm2, p = 0.697). Likewise, the frequency of dermal LCs (5,9 ± 0,9 vs. 7.5 ± 1.3LCs/mm2, p = 0.329) was comparable between patients with hypospadias and without penile malformation. No differences became apparent in subgroup analyses, comparing distal to proximal hypospadias (p = 0.949), younger and older boys (p = 0.818) or considering topical dihydrotestosterone treatment prior to surgery (p = 0.08). The morphology of the LCs was not different comparing hypospadias patients with boys without penile malformations. LCs are present in similar frequencies and with a comparable morphology and distribution in patients with hypospadias as compared to children without penile malformations. This suggests that patients with hypospadias are not different from patients with normal penile development considering this particular compartment of their skin immunity.

中文翻译：

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尿道下裂中的朗格汉斯细胞：对表皮层和全层皮肤切片上的朗格琳（CD207）和HLA-DR的分析。

尿道下裂是最常见的生殖器畸形之一。朗格汉斯细胞（LC）在HIV和HPV感染中起着关键作用。LC前体向皮肤的迁移与尿道下裂发育的胚胎期相吻合，遗传改变导致尿道下裂的形成影响外胚层衍生组织的发育。我们假设这可能与尿道下裂患者表皮和真皮LC的频率或形态差异有关。在获得父母同意和伦理学批准后，来自两个中心的总共43名患者被前瞻性纳入本研究。从26名患有尿道下裂的患者，13名无阴茎畸形的患者和4名除尿道下裂以外的阴茎畸形的患者的皮肤样本中制备表皮和真皮片。用抗HLA-DR-FITC和抗CD207 / Langerin-A594抗体对薄片进行免疫荧光染色。对11例无阴茎畸形的患者和11例尿道下裂的患者的皮肤切片进行Langerin染色。显微镜观察片材和切片上表皮和真皮LC的频率以及形态和分布。细胞计数通过未配对的t检验进行比较。表皮LC的频率没有差异，无论是在纸张上（873±61 vs. 940±84LCs / mm2，p = 0.522）还是在切片上（32±3 vs. 30±2LCs / mm2，p = 0.697）。同样，在尿道下裂和没有阴茎畸形的患者中，皮肤LC的发生频率（5.9±0.9 vs. 7.5±1.3LC / mm2，p = 0.329）具有可比性。与远端尿道下裂和近端尿道下裂相比，亚组分析无明显差异（p = 0.949），小男孩和大男孩（p = 0.818）或考虑在手术前进行局部二氢睾丸激素治疗（p = 0.08）。比较尿道下裂患者和没有阴茎畸形的男孩，LC的形态无异。与没有阴茎畸形的儿童相比，尿道下裂患者的LC出现频率相似，并且在形态和分布上具有可比性。这表明尿道下裂的患者与阴茎发育正常的患者没有什么区别，考虑到他们皮肤免疫力的这一特定区室。与没有阴茎畸形的儿童相比，尿道下裂患者的LC出现频率相似，并且在形态和分布上具有可比性。这表明尿道下裂的患者与阴茎发育正常的患者没有什么区别，考虑到他们皮肤免疫力的这一特定区室。与没有阴茎畸形的儿童相比，尿道下裂患者的LC出现频率相似，并且在形态和分布上具有可比性。这表明尿道下裂的患者与阴茎发育正常的患者没有什么区别，考虑到他们皮肤免疫力的这一特定区室。