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Montenegro SE, Oh JH, Suh JH, Mun JH, Chung JH. Higher Expression of Lympho-epithelial Kazal-type-Related Inhibitor-1 Fragments and Decreased Desquamation in the Lesional Skin of Nummular Eczema. Acta Derm Venereol 2024; 104:adv188636. [PMID: 38551375 PMCID: PMC11000662 DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v104.18636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Nummular eczema, a chronic dermatitis characterized by coin-shaped lesions, was first documented in 1857. However, its pathophysiological characteristics are still not well known. To investigate differences in the regulation of the desquamation process in the stratum corneum of lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with nummular eczema and healthy control subjects, tape-stripped stratum corneum samples from patients with nummular eczema and healthy volunteers were analysed using immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis. In the nummular eczema lesional skin, expression of desmoglein-1, desmocollin-1, and corneodesmosin exhibited a disorganized, dense or partially diffuse non-peripheral pattern with increased intensity, compared with the peripheral patterns observed in healthy or nonlesional skin, suggesting the impaired desquamation process in nummular eczema. Furthermore, although the expression of the desquamation-related serine proteases, kallikrein-related peptidase 7 and 5, was increased in nummular eczema lesional skin, the immunofluorescence staining of lympho-epithelial Kazal-type-related inhibitor-1, an endogenous inhibitor of various kallikrein-related peptidases, and its fragments were significantly increased in the nummular eczema lesional skin, suggesting its contribution to the inhibition of corneodesmosomal degradation. Therefore, the increased detection of corneodesmosomal proteins in nummular eczema lesions may be due to the increased amount of the fragments of lympho-epithelial Kazal-type-related inhibitor-1, which could contribute to delayed desquamation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Estefania Montenegro
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang-Hee Oh
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joong Heon Suh
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Ho Mun
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Ho Chung
- Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute on Aging, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Évora AS, Adams MJ, Johnson SA, Zhang Z. Corneocytes: Relationship between Structural and Biomechanical Properties. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2021; 34:146-161. [PMID: 33780956 DOI: 10.1159/000513054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Skin is the interface between an organism and the external environment, and hence the stratum corneum (SC) is the first to withstand mechanical insults that, in certain conditions, may lead to integrity loss and the development of pressure ulcers. The SC comprises corneocytes, which are vital elements to its barrier function. These cells are differentiated dead keratinocytes, without organelles, composed of a cornified envelope and a keratin-filled interior, and connected by corneodesmosomes (CDs). SUMMARY The current review focusses on the relationship between the morphological, structural, and topographical features of corneocytes and their mechanical properties, to understand how they assist the SC in maintaining skin integrity and in responding to mechanical insults. Key Messages: Corneocytes create distinct regions in the SC: the inner SC is characterized by immature cells with a fragile cornified envelope and a uniform distribution of CDs; the upper SC has resilient cornified envelopes and a honeycomb distribution of CDs, with a greater surface area and a smaller thickness than cells from the inner layer. The literature indicates that this upward maturation process is one of the most important steps in the mechanical resistance and barrier function of the SC. The morphology of these cells is dependent on the body site: the surface area in non-exposed skin is about 1,000-1,200 μm2, while for exposed skin, for example, the cheek and forehead, is about 700-800 μm2. Corneocytes are stiff cells compared to other cellular types, for example, the Young's modulus of muscle and fibroblast cells is typically a few kPa, while that of corneocytes is reported to be about hundreds of MPa. Moreover, these skin cells have 2 distinct mechanical regions: the cornified envelope (100-250 MPa) and the keratin matrix (250-500 MPa).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Évora
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Adams
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Simon A Johnson
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Zhibing Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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