Langhans giant cell

Langhans giant cells in a granuloma in tuberculosis. HE.

The Langhans cell or Langhans giant cell is a cell developed from the reticuloendothelial system (RES) or derived from an epithelial cell that is part of the body's defense against infection.

The function of the giant cells (which should not be confused with the phagocytic Langerhans cells ) of the Langhans type is largely unknown. They can be found in granulomatous diseases of various causes, such as infectious diseases such as tuberculosis , leprosy or schistosomiasis and chronic inflammations such as Crohn's disease , rheumatoid arthritis and sarcoid .

It has a diameter of up to 0.3 mm, is only slightly phagocytically active and specializes in the secretion of lysosomal enzymes. The horseshoe-shaped arrangement of the numerous cell nuclei is characteristic.

The Langhans giant cell is named after the director of the Institute of Pathology at the University of Bern Theodor Langhans (1839–1915), who coined the term “giant cell” for it in 1868.