Reappearance of CD1a antigenic sites after endocytosis on human Langerhans cells evidenced by immunogoldrelabeling.

We show evidence of the reappearance of CD1a antigenic sites on the surface of human isolated Langerhans cells after internalization of CD1a antigen/CD1a monoclonal antibody (BL6) complexes. The internalization was visualized by immunogoldlabeling, and the reappearance of CD1a binding sites was shown by immunogoldrelabeling. The relabeling was distinguished from the labeling either by using two sizes of gold granules (15 and 5 nm) or by quantitative estimation with one size of gold granules, before and after the relabeling. This reappearance of sites is cycloheximide insensitive, and is evidenced, even if the transfer of gold particles to lysosomes is blocked by the monensin. These results suggest that the reexpression of CD1a antigens is due to antigens stored in the cytoplasm or to recycling of internalized sites. Some immunolabeled Birbeck granules were observed in continuity with the plasma membrane, which demonstrates their membrane origin and their involvement in the endocytosis process. However, the weak labeling of these organelles makes us believe that they are not specialized CD1a endocytosis structures.