Context: Langerhans cells (LCs ) are dendritic cells residents in epithelial tissue, which motivate the immune system against to pathogen entry, self-antigen, commensal microbes and protect the mucosa. Langerhans cells in oral mucosal are responsive to wide microbes such as oral Candida species that play immunological activity in immunosuppressed cases. Aims: The study was aimed at compering the distribution of LCs in in immunodeficiency mice associated with/without oral candidiasis. Settings and Design: Thirty female mice were distributed in three groups; control group (C group), immunosuppressed group without candida infection (IM group) and immunosuppressed group with candida infection (IM+C. albicans group). Methods and

Material: The dorsal tongue surface stained with CD1a marker and the number of LCs was calculated. Statistical analysis used: was performed using analysis to determine the difference in the number of LCs between groups by analysis of variance or Student t test with unequal variances. A P value of <0.05 was regarded to be statistically significant. Results: The statistically examination of lingual sections showed high significantly different in LCs cells number between each group (p< 0.05). The greatest number of LCs was observed in (IM+ C. albicans group) with the Mean±SD: 102±31.30, and the lowest number was observed in (C group ) with the Mean±SD: 17±14.29, while (IM group) recorded Mean±SD: 44.2±9.95.

Conclusions: The increase in (IM+C. albicans group) might return to the role of antigenic exposure that leading to cell mediated immunity in oral candidiasis. 

Keywords: Langerhans Cells (LCs); CD1a; Oral Mucosa; Immunosuppressed; Candida Albicans.