Birbeck granules

Birbeck granules

Birbeck granules, also known as Birbeck bodies, are rod shaped[1] or "tennis-racket" cytoplasmic organelles with a central linear density and a striated appearance. First described in 1961 (where they were simply termed "characteristic granules"),[2] they are solely found in Langerhans cells.[1] Although part of normal Langerhans cell histology, they also provide a mechanism to differentiate Langerhans cell histiocytoses (which are a group of rare conditions collectively known as histiocytoses) from proliferative disorders caused by other cell lines.

Formation is induced by langerin.[3]

  1. ^ a b Mc Dermott R, Ziylan U, Spehner D, et al. (January 2002). "Birbeck granules are subdomains of the endosomal recycling compartment in human epidermal Langerhans cells, which form where langerin accumulates". Mol. Biol. Cell. 13 (1): 317–35. doi:10.1091/mbc.01-06-0300. PMC 65091. PMID 11809842.
  2. ^ Birbeck MS, Breathnach AS, Everall JD (July 1961). "An electron microscope study of basal melanocytes and high-level clear cells (Langerhans cells) in vitiligo". Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 37 (1): 51–64. doi:10.1038/jid.1961.80.
  3. ^ Kissenpfennig A, Aït-Yahia S, Clair-Moninot V, et al. (January 2005). "Disruption of the langerin/CD207 gene abolishes Birbeck granules without a marked loss of Langerhans cell function". Mol. Cell. Biol. 25 (1): 88–99. doi:10.1128/MCB.25.1.88-99.2005. PMC 538791. PMID 15601833.