Birbeck granules
Encyclopedia
Birbeck granules, also known as Birbeck bodies, are rod shaped or "tennis-racket" cytoplasmic organelles with a central linear density and a striated appearance. They are a characteristic microscopic finding in Langerhans cell histiocytosis
(Histiocytosis X), which is one of a group of rare conditions collectively known as histiocytosis
.
Formation is induced by langerin
.
-coated pits.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Langerhans cell Histiocytosis is a rare disease involving clonal proliferation of Langerhans cells, abnormal cells deriving from bone marrow and capable of migrating from skin to lymph nodes...
(Histiocytosis X), which is one of a group of rare conditions collectively known as histiocytosis
Histiocytosis
In medicine, histiocytosis refers to an excessive number of histiocytes, , and is typically used to refer to a group of rare diseases which share this as a characteristic...
.
Formation is induced by langerin
Langerin
CD207, langerin is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CD207 gene. Langerin is a type II transmembrane cell surface receptor produced by Langerhans cells.-Function:...
.
Function
Function is under question, but one theory is that they migrate to the periphery of the Langerhans cells and release its contents into the extracellular matrix. Another theory is that the Birbeck granule functions in receptor-mediated endocytosis, similar to clathrinClathrin
Clathrin is a protein that plays a major role in the formation of coated vesicles. Clathrin was first isolated and named by Barbara Pearse in 1975. It forms a triskelion shape composed of three clathrin heavy chains and three light chains. When the triskelia interact they form a polyhedral lattice...
-coated pits.