Cellular architecture of normal human skin imaged by whole mount tissue microscopy. Human skin has a rich network of white blood cells (specifically dendritic cells, T cells and macrophages) which form sheaths around blood vessels. This image was taken greater than 150 micrometres beneath the junction that joins the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin (dermo-epidermal junction). At this level, dendritic cells (stained for CD11c; green) and macrophages (stained for LYVE-1; blue) form clusters around blood vessels (stained for CD31; red). This normal cellular architecture is grossly disrupted in diseased skin (see related images). Scale bar (white) represents 100 micrometres.
Dr. Xiao-nong Wang, Human Dendritic Cell Laboratory, Newcastle University
