Adjacent Epidermis Research Articles

Distribution patterns of the OKM 5 antigen in normal and diseased human epidermis

The distribution of OKM 5-positive dendritic cells in the epidermis was investigated in 75 cases of inflammatory dermatoses and in 14 cases of normal human skin by immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. Furthermore 6 cases of normal human skin, 14 cases of nevocellular nevi, 26 cases of malignant melanoma, 7 cases of contact dermatitis and 6 cases of mycosis fungoides have been examined with special emphasis on the expression of OKM 5 antigen on keratinocytes. OKM 5-positive dendritic cells were present in normal human epidermis at a density of 46 +/- 3.4 cells/mm2 section area. However, there was a significant increase in cutaneous drug eruptions (166 +/- 17.2 cells/mm2; U-test: p less than or equal to 0.05). Concerning OKM 5-positive keratinocytes, a mean percentage of 10.2% +/- 5.0% OKM 5-positive keratinocytes was found in nevocellular nevi, compared to 0.5% +/- 0.5% in the adjacent skin. The corresponding values for malignant melanomas were 52.5% +/- 3.4% (lesional epidermis) and 7.1% +/- 2.2% (adjacent epidermis). There were significant differences of both lesional and adjacent epidermis between nevi and melanomas (U-test: p less than or equal to 0.05). Our cases of contact dermatitis revealed a mean percentage of 19.3% +/- 6.7% OKM 5-positive keratinocytes, whereas in mycosis fungoides the corresponding value represents 42.7% +/- 6.2%. The differences between the percentage of OKM 5-positive keratinocytes in normal epidermis and contact dermatitis as well as mycosis fungoides were significant (U-test).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Follicular occurrence of prurigo nodularis

Thirty-eight biopsies of prurigo lesions (22 large, mature nodules and 16 smaller, intermediately developed nodules) were obtained from 17 patients with idiopathic prurigo nodularis Hyde who had not been bitten by insects, nor had other underlying diseases. Each biopsy was serially sectioned to reveal its histological structure. In 88% (14/16) of the smaller nodules and in 55% (12/22) of the large ones, a hair follicle was observed in the center of the prurigo lesion. The follicular epidermis and the adjacent surface epidermis showed various degrees of acanthosis and spongiosis. The dermal infiltrates extended from the superficial dermis into the middle dermis in a triangular fashion around the involved hair follicle. It is suggested that idiopathic prurigo nodularis most frequently occurs in connection with a hair follicle.

Ultrastructural appearances of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis.

The ultrastructure of the cornoid lamella and adjacent epidermis was studied by transmission electron microscopy in seven patients with disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP). In the region of the cornoid lamella similar ultrastructural changes were seen in various degrees in all cases. The main changes were seen in various degrees in all cases. The main changes included reduplication of the basal lamina at the dermo-epidermal junction, vacuolar change in the keratinocytes with numerous autophagic vacuoles, glycogen accumulation, dyskeratotic cells, parakeratotic cells containing degraded organelles, and a reduced granular layer.

Necrotizing lymphocytic folliculitis: The early lesion of acne necrotica (varioliformis)

Skin biopsy specimens from four patients who had recurrent bouts of lesions conforming to the clinical description of acne necrotica were studied. The pathologic findings were dominated by lymphocytic inflammation around centrally placed follicles evolving to follicular necrosis that extended to the perifollicular epidermis and dermis. Early lesions showed the development of multiple individual necrotic keratinocytes within the follicular sheath and adjacent epidermis with lymphocytic exocytosis. Later lesions showed more intense necrosis and scale crust obscuring the central target but were still dominated by a peripheral lymphocytic infiltrate. The early pathologic findings of acne necrotica (varioliformis) are represented by a necrotizing lymphocytic folliculitis and differ from the pattern seen in association with nonspecific excoriations, acute bacterial folliculitis, classic comedogenic acne, or acnitis.

Amino acids, including neurotransmitter candidates, in a hair cell-enriched fraction from the lateral line of Xenopus laevis

1. 1. A hair cell-enriched neuromast fraction from the lateral line of Xenopus laevis was compared with adjacent tactile organ and epidermis for content of primary amine-containing components. 2. 2. Of 32 components quantitated by cation-exchange HPLC with fluorescence detection of orthophthalaldehyde adducts, l-α-amino adipic acid, O-phosphoethanolamine, l-α-glycerophosphorylethanolamine, O-phospho- l-serine, and l-lysine were elevated in concentration in the neuromast relative to the tactile organ an/or epidermis. 3. 3. l-Aspartic acid, l-asparagine, l-glutamic acid, and taurine were present at higher levels in the tactile organ or epidermis than in the neuromast. Taurine was found in only trace amounts in the neuromast. 4. 4. The tactile organ and epidermis contained at least 3 unidentified primary amine components that were absent or reduced in amount in the neuromast. 5. 5. This study demonstrates that the epidermally-derived, hair cell-containing neuromast of the lateral line of Xenopus laevis is different in molecular composition from surrounding epidermally-derived tissue. Such differences may reflect specialized mechanoreceptive function.

Cell populations in pagetoid reticulosis: an immunological study using cell activation associated monoclonal antibodies

The nature of the epidermal cellular infiltrate in pagetoid reticulosis is still subject to intense controversies. Using a panel of recently developed monoclonal antibodies against cell activation and proliferation associated antigens it was possible to demonstrate the activated state of numerous T cells within the lesional epidermis. Moreover approximately 10% of these T cells reacted with proliferation associated antigens. In addition macrophages and Langerhans´ cells were found to represent a regular constituent of the epidermal infiltrate with a density clearly exceeding that of unaffected adjacent epidermis. The close apposition of activated T cells and monocytic cells suggests an intensive interaction of both cell types in the development of the pagetoid reticulosis lesion.

Ultrastructure of the posterior sense receptor of larval Austramphilina elongata (Amphilinidea)

Rohde K. and Garlick P. R. 1985. Ultrastructure of the posterior sense receptor of larval Austramphilina elongata (Amphilinidea). International Journal for Parasitology 15: 399–402. Eight large papillae arranged in a circle at the posterior end of the body each contain one non-ciliate receptor. The receptor is the terminal swelling of a thin dendrite; it has many large mitochondria, a basal body from which cross-striated ciliary rootlets diverge, and a bundle of long non-striated filaments. The electrondense collar is formed by several thin rings, and some desmosomes are found between the receptor and the adjacent epidermis in addition to the apical septate desmosomes.

Pathology of an Ulcerative Dermatitis in Belgian Landrace Sows

Chronic ulcers of the skin were observed in three Belgian Landrace sows. Lesions were located on ears, limbs, and in the mammary region and were resistant to treatment that included corticosteroid therapy. Major histologic changes were located at the dermo-epidermal junction. Ulcers were deep, and the adjacent epidermis had marked hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and intracellular edema. Dermatitis was prominent, essentially located in the superficial dermis. By electron microscopy, basal lamina appeared disrupted. Dermo-epidermal separation occurred beneath the basal lamina. Collagen was morphologically normal. Desmosomes, hemidesmosomes, and anchorage fibers were present in areas adjacent to lesions. Ulcerative dermatitis of sows is morphologically similar to pemphigus, pemphigoid, systemic lupus erythematosus, epidermolysis bullosa simplex, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug eruption. However, significant differences exist between ulcerative dermatitis and these conditions.

Phenotypic Expression of Epidermal Cells in Vitro: A Review

Disaggregated epidermal cells, sheets of epidermis, and explants of partial and full-thickness skin have been grown in cell, organ, and explant cultures. Each type of epidermal sample has also been "cultured" as a graft on a living animal host. The extent of tissue-specific phenotypic expression by the epidermal cell varies with the type of culture and the culture conditions: medium, biologic and pharmacologic additives, substrate, cell density, pH, and temperature. Specific culture conditions can be chosen to select for certain phenotypic traits. In spite of the diversity of conditions that may be used for culture, keratinocytes in cell, explant, and organ cultures undergo a similar pattern of differentiation. They stratify and keratinize, but rarely express a complete program of keratinization. Many of the characteristics associated with this pattern of differentiation are also observed in fetal epidermis during development. In culture, normal tissue architecture is usually absent; cells organize in flattened, loosely associated layers, synthesize a different pattern of keratin polypeptides, form keratohyalin granules only sporadically, and rarely contain lamellar granules. Epidermal differentiation in explant and organ cultures can be evaluated in regions of the explant, epibolic zone, and outgrowth apron. The epidermis of the original explant undergoes hyperproliferation, degeneration, sloughing, and then regeneration of a thin tissue. The cells in the epithelial outgrowth zone stratify and differentiate almost identically with those in cell culture. Neogenesis of structures in the basement-membrane zone can be followed in all three regions of the explant culture. Sheets of epidermis or epidermal cells transplanted onto or into a host animal show the most complete expression of the epidermal phenotype. After a period of hyperplastic growth, the cell layers become established in a pattern nearly identical to that in vivo. A complete granular layer is formed and stratum corneum cells, which are structurally and biochemically equivalent to those in tissue, differentiate. In some instances, the epidermis reconstructed from cells or tissue is indistinguishable from adjacent host epidermis. Experiments that include serial transfer from one culture system to another demonstrate the plasticity of the epidermal cell and its ability to respond variously to its environment.

Acid glycosidases in basal cell epithelioma and in seborrhoeic keratosis.

Total activities of eleven glycosidases were determined in frozen-dried tissue fragments of basal cell epithelioma, seborrhoeic keratosis and epidermis. The values found were frequently much higher than those mentioned in the literature. Most enzyme activities were higher in basal cell tumours than in the adjacent epidermis; the differences between basal cell epithelioma and seborrhoeic keratosis were significant for only two of the eleven enzymes.

Surface ultrastructure of the cornea and adjacent epidermis during metamorphosis of Rana pipiens: a scanning electron microscopic study.

The external surface of the cornea and adjacent epidermis of larvae in representative developmental stages and of adult frogs, Rana pipiens, was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Surface cells are polygonal, usually hexagonal, in outline and covered with microprojections. During larval development prior to metamorphic stages, neither eyelids nor Harderian glands have developed; microprojections on the corneal surface are high and branched, and cell boundaries are elevated. On the anterior portion of the cornea and on the epidermis near the eye, the surface pattern is less dense, and ciliated cells are present. During metamorphic stages, corneal cell boundaries become less prominent and the pattern of microprojections more variable and markedly different from that of larvae of earlier stages. Corneal cells have a spongy appearance, are covered by a coating material, or are characterized as light or dark based on their brightness and surface texture. As eyelids develop in metamorphic stages XX-XXI, the numbers of ciliated cells increase dramatically, both on the corneal surface and on the edges of the developing lids. In later metamorphic stages XXII-XXV, lids and Harderian glands become well-developed, and cilia are no longer observed. The adjacent epidermal surface becomes devoid of cilia but perforated by openings of cutaneous glands. Its spongy appearance is similar to that of both the cornea and neighboring epidermis of the mature frog. Changes in corneal surface features are probably metamorphic events associated with development of lids and Harderian glands and a shift from an aqueous to an air environment.

Subungual malignant melanoma: a clinical-pathologic study.

In a study of 66 cases of subungual malignant melanoma, a clinical misdiagnosis often delayed histologic diagnosis and proper treatment. Most subungual melanomas are deep lesions at the time of histologic examination. Female patients have a relatively good prognosis as opposed to the poor prognosis of male patients. Paradoxically, a few patients with relatively shallow tumors and low mitotic rates died with metastases and a few patients with deep aggressive-appearing melanomas are alive and well more than five years later. Metastases, however, may become evident many years after the primary tumor has been resected. Metastases to the regional lymph nodes may be found at the time of amputation but do not preclude a long survival. No difference in prognosis related to the extent of the amputation could be identified. A variety of histologic patterns may be present and the adjacent epidermis frequently shows changes of precancerous melanosis but the survival is not affected.

Antibodies to outer root sheath of hair. Distinct antigenic properties of the basal cell layer of the outer root sheath below the sebaceous gland canal.

By screening 1500 sera obtained from patients undergoing a bone marrow graft, five sera have been selected which contained antibodies to the basal cell layer (B.C.L.) of the outer root sheath (O.R.S.) of hair follicles. It was demonstrated that these sera reacted with the B.C.L. of the O.R.S. but not with the B.C.L. of the adjacent epidermis. The change in antigenic properties was situated at the orifice of the sebaceous gland canal; thus basal cells below this orifice express an antigen distinct from those expressed by the epidermal basal cells. This is a novel example of tissue specific differentiation antigens that are linked to the type of keratinocyte differentiation.

Glandular Trichomes on Medicago Species1

Glandular hairs have been implicated in resistance of Medicago species to the alfalfa weevil [Hypera postica (Gyllenhal)]. Using light and scanning electron microscopy, we studied the morphology of glands on annuals (diploid M. disciformis DC, tetraploid M. scutellata (L) Mill.) and perennials (diploid M. prostrata Jacq., tetraploids M. sativa L. subsp, sativa and praefalcata) as the itial phase of an investigation to determine the role of glands in resistance.Erect and procumbent multicellular types with capitatestalked morphology are present. The stalk of erect trichomes is composed of four to six cells including an enlarged basal cell arising from the epidermis. Gland heads contain numerous ceils arranged in distinct tiers. The basal tier contains four cells that constitute about one‐third of the head. Two additional tiers, which together contain 8 to 16 cells, form the remainder of the gland head.The procumbent trichomes are generally composed of a basal cell embedded in the epidermis, a single stalk cell, and a gland head of four cells in two tiers. The gland curves sharply at the stalk and basal cells, so that much of the axis parallels the adjacent epidermis. The direction of bending is highly stabilized toward the terminal on stems and toward the distal ends of stipules, petioles, leaflets, peduncles, and sepals. Diploid and tetraploid annuals (M. disciformis DC, M. scutellata Mill.) and diploid perennial (M. prostrata Jacq.) contain erect andprocumbent glands. M. sativa L. subsp, sativa (tetraploids, ‘Buffalo’ ‘DuPuits’, ‘Lahontan’, and ‘San Pedro’, and diploid CADL 15) have only procumbent glands. In M. sativa subsp. praefalcata (Sinskaya) C. R. Gunn, erect glands are generally confined to floral structures, with only precumbent glands on vegetative parts. We found a few plants with erect glands on vegetative parts.

Regulation and metamorphosis of the abdominal histoblasts ofDrosophila melanogaster

The development of the adult abdomen ofDrosophila melanogaster was analyzed by histology, microcautery, and genetic strategies. Eight nests of diploid histoblasts were identified in the newly hatched larva among the polytene epidermal cells of each abdominal segment: pairs of anterior dorsal, posterior dorsal, and ventral histoblast nests and a pair of spiracular anlagen. The histoblasts do not divide during larval life but begin dividing rapidly 3 h after pupariation, doubling every 3.6 h. Initially they remain confined to their original area, but 15 h after pupariation the nests enlarge, and histoblasts replace adjacent epidermis cell by cell. The histoblasts cover half the abdomen by 28 h after pupariation and the rest by 36 h. Polytene epidermal cells of the intersegmental margin are replaced last. Cautery of the anterior dorsal nest caused deletion of the whole corresponding hemitergite, whereas cautery of the posterior dorsal nest caused the deletion of the macrochaetae of the posterior of the hemitergite. Cautery of the ventral nest deleted the hemisternite and the pleura, whereas cautery of the spiracular anlagen deleted the spiracle. Results of cautery also revealed that no macrochaetae formed on the tergite in the absence of adjacent microchaetae. Clonal analysis revealed that there were no clonal restrictions within a hemitergite at pupariation. Cautery of polytene epidermal cells other than those of the intersegmental margin failed to affect tergite development. However, cautery of polytene epidermal cells of the intersegmental margin adjacent to either dorsal histoblast nest caused mirror-image duplications of the anterior or posterior of the hemitergite in 10% of the hemitergites. Forty percent of the damaged presumptive hemitergites formed complete hemitergites, indicating extensive pattern regulation and regeneration. Pattern duplication and regeneration were accounted for in terms of intercalation and a model of epimorphic pattern regulation (French et al., 1976). Histoblasts in adjacent segments normally develop independently, but if they are enabled to interact by deleting the polytene epidermal cells of the intersegmental margin, they undergo intercalation which results in duplication or regeneration. The possible role of the intersegmental margin cells of insects in development was analyzed.

Possible defects in triacylglycerol and phosphatidyl- choline metabolism in psoriatic epidermis

Biopsies of normal skin, psoriatic lesions and the adjacent psoriatic skin were incubated with I-14C-acetate, 32P-orthophosphate and U-14C-glycerol. Total incorporation of I-14C-acetate into psoriatic lesions (17 samples) was 50% higher than in the adjacent uninvolved epidermis (9 samples) and 120% higher than into normal epidermis (10 samples). In the psoriatic lesion a much higher proportion of the total incorporation was into the neutral lipids and was due mainly to a very high incorporation of I-14C-acetate into the triacylglycerols. The I-14C-acetate incorporated into the phospholipids and especially phosphatidylcholine was proportionally much less in the psoriatic lesion and uninvolved psoriatic epidermis than in normal epidermis even though the incorporation of 32P-orthophosphate and U-14C-glycerol, both representing de novo synthesis, into the phospholipids in the psoriatic lesions and uninvolved epidermis were higher (four-fold in lesion) than in normal epidermis. Our findings (1) are evidence for a much increased triacylglycerol synthesis in psoriatic epidermis which would account for the long-known observation of lipid droplet accumulation in psoriatic cells; (2) suggest that in psoriatic epidermis there is a defect in phospholipid metabolism mainly involving phosphatidycholine and the deacylation (phospholipase A)-reacylation (phospholipid acyltransferase) cycle for fatty acid transfer.

The effect of intracutaneous injections of micronized crystalline suspensions of nandrolone phenyl-propionate in the skin of female hairless hamsters.

Single intracutaneous injections of micronized crystalline suspensions of nandrolone phenylpro-pionate have been shown to induce local thickening of the epidermis of female hairless hamsters, accompanied by a marked increase in sebaceous gland volume over a period of 7 days. It is known that certain materials, when injected intracutaneously, may produce a diffuse inflammatory response in the dermis which in turn causes hyperplasia in the adjacent epidermis. The response observed in the present case, however, is clearly specific to nandrolone phenylpropionate, and cannot be attributed to an inflammatory response of the dermis to intracutaneously injected crystalline material.

Scanning electron microscopical observations on epidermal wound healing in the PlanarianDugesia tigrina.

Epidermal wound healing in regeneratingDugesia tigrina (Planaria) has been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The normal epidermal surface and its differentiations have been descrebed. Observations on living material reveal the highly dynamic state of the wound in invididual animals and its more or less continously changing size due to the state of activity of the animals. These observations show good agreement with the SEM studies, which allow a clear delineation of cellular details of the wound, the wound margins and the apposing epidermal regions. These details are described. The over-all picture of planarian wound healing that emerges is briefly as follows: Epithelization is characterized by absence of proliferation from the "old" intact epidermis. Variable contraction of smooth muscle cells reduces the wound size to a certain extent. Simultaneously with this and also during a longer period epidermal cells adjacent to the wound are extending and some become highly attenuated. These two processes together are only to a certain degree effective in wound closure because of a definite epidermal cell deficit which is reflected in the emergence of an epidermal wound edge reflecting the maximal contribution of these two processes to an attempt to close the wound. Complete epithelization is effected by the operation of a third mechanism: Recruitment of cell through flow of subjacent "blastemal cells" (including rhabdite-forming cells) along the wound border; these cells subsequently occupy a peripheral position in the wound. This process is supplemented by cell immigration and insertion into the adjacent old epidermis and in the wound cell sheet. Rhabdite-forming cells contribute predominantly to this process. Eventually integration between old epidermal cells and the newly recruited cells which differentiate into epidermal cells results in final epithelization. Complete wound healing is based on interactions between the epidermal cell system and the regenerating subepidermal membrane-connective tissue filament-muscle cell system.

Fine structure of nuchal organs in some errant polychaetous annelids.

The nuchal organs of polychaetes from four different families (Nereidae, Nephtyidae, Phyllodocidae and Glyceridae) were examined with the light and electron microscopes. In each case, the organ consists of ciliated cells and primary sensory elements. The ciliated cells are similar to the cells of the adjacent epidermis but bear motile cilia. Primary sensory neurons are situated within the organs in Nephtyidae and Phyllodocidae, but are located within the brain in Nereidae and Glyceridae. Each sensory cell gives rise to a distal process which penetrates between the ciliated cells to form an apical sensory bulb bearing modified cilia. Apically these processes are lined with juxtamembranous plaques. The ciliated cells are innervated by efferent axons from the brain, and in Nereis the axons appear to be peptidergic. The elements comprising the nuchal organs closely resemble those of the vertebrate olfactory mucosa.

Wound healing in Eisenia foetida (Oligochaeta). I. Histology and 3H-thymidine radioautography of the epidermis.

AbstractWhen the eight most anterior segments of Eisenia foetida are removed the wound is provisionally closed by a plug of coelomocytes surrounding an everted or retracted esophagus. Usually within one to three days the wound is definitively covered by migration of the columnar cells from the adjacent epidermis over the coelomic plug. Epidermal basal and gland cells do not directly take part in wound epithelialization.In the normal epidermis 2.3% of the cells incorporate 3H‐thymidine during a labeling period of one hour. The incorporation rate for the columnar cells is higher than that for the basal cells and the gland cells are not labeled. During the period of wound covering by the epidermis (the first three days after transection) the DNA synthetic rate for basal cells and columnar cells drops steadily in both the segment bordering the wound and for at least four segments posteriorly. At four and five days the labeling rate for the epidermis of the segment near the wound rises sharply to beyond the control levels (3.7%) then drops again abruptly at six to seven days (0.8%). Two to four segments posterior to the wound the incorporation rate remains at the low 3‐day level throughout the first week after transection.