<Dl> <Dd> Not to be confused with the cells of the islets of Langerhans, found in the pancreas, or Langhans giant cell . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> Not to be confused with the cells of the islets of Langerhans, found in the pancreas, or Langhans giant cell . </Dd> <P> Langerhans cells are dendritic cells (antigen - presenting immune cells) of the skin and mucosa, and contain organelles called Birbeck granules . They are present in all layers of the epidermis and are most prominent in the stratum spinosum . They also occur in the papillary dermis, particularly around blood vessels, as well as in the mucosa of the mouth, foreskin, and vagina . They can be found in other tissues, such as lymph nodes, particularly in association with the condition Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). </P> <P> In skin infections, the local Langerhans cells take up and process microbial antigens to become fully functional antigen - presenting cells . </P>

Epidermal dendritic (langerhans) cells function as part of the