Touton giant cell explained

Touton giant cells are a type of multinucleated giant cell seen in lesions with high lipid content such as fat necrosis, xanthoma, and xanthelasma and xanthogranulomas. They are also found in dermatofibroma.^[1]

History

Touton giant cells are named for Karl Touton, a German botanist and dermatologist.^[2] Karl Touton first observed these cells in 1885 and named them "xanthelasmatic giant cells", a name which has since fallen out of favor.^[3]

Appearance

Touton giant cells, being multinucleated giant cells, can be distinguished by the presence of several nuclei in a distinct pattern. They contain a ring of nuclei surrounding a central homogeneous cytoplasm, while foamy cytoplasm surrounds the nuclei.^{[4] [5]} The cytoplasm surrounded by the nuclei has been described as both amphophilic and eosinophilic, while the cytoplasm near the periphery of the cell is pale and foamy in appearance.^[6]

Causes

Touton giant cells are formed by the fusion of macrophage-derived foam cells. It has been suggested that cytokines such as interferon gamma, interleukin-3, and M-CSF may be involved in the production of Touton giant cells.^{[7] [8]}

External links

• Cytokines & Cells Online Pathfinder Encyclopaedia

Notes and References

1. Book: Rapini, Ronald P. . Bolognia, Jean L. . Jorizzo, Joseph L. . Dermatology: 2-Volume Set . Mosby . St. Louis . 2007 . 14, 15 . 978-1-4160-2999-1 .
2. 3068999 . Jun 1988 . Karl Touton and his "xanthelasmatic giant cell." A selective review of multinucleated giant cells . 10. Aterman . M. . 3 . Smith . 257–269. 0193-1091 . K. . The American Journal of Dermatopathology. Remmele . W.. 10.1097/00000372-198806000-00012 .
3. Book: Olson, James . The History of Cancer: An Annotated Bibliography . ABC-CLIO . 1989 . 139 . 9780313258893.
4. Book: Grant-Kels, Jane . Color Atlas of Dermatopathology . Informa Healthcare . City . 2007 . 978-0-8493-3794-9 . 107, 119 .
5. Carmen Gómez-Mateo . Maria . Monteagudo . Carlos . 2013 . Nonepithelial skin tumors with multinucleated giant cells . Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology . 30 . 1 . 58–72 . 23327730 . 10.1053/j.semdp.2012.01.004.
6. Sequeira . Fiona . Gandhi . Suneil . 2012 . Named cells in dermatology . Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology . 78 . 2 . 207–16 . 10.4103/0378-6323.93650 . 22421663. free .
7. Quinn . Mark . Schepetkin . Igor . 2009 . Role of NADPH Oxidase in Formation and Function of Multinucleated Giant Cells . Journal of Innate Immunology . 1 . 6 . 509–26 . 10.1159/000228158 . 2919507 . 20375608.
8. Reiss . AB . Patel . CA . 2004 . Interferon-gamma impedes reverse cholesterol transport and promotes foam cell transformation in THP-1 human monocytes/macrophages . . 10 . 11 . 420–5 . 15507847.