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Keratinocyte protein expression in rapidly regenerating epidermis following laser‐induced thermal injury
Author(s) -
Smoller Bruce R.,
Dover Jeffrey S.,
Hsu Amy
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900090309
Subject(s) - involucrin , epidermis (zoology) , keratinocyte , keratin , pathology , dermis , biology , wound healing , staining , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , immunology , medicine , in vitro , biochemistry
We examined 20 punch biopsies taken from five patients at varying intervals following CO 2 laser‐induced thermal injury. The regenerating epidermis was studied with monoclonal antibodies AE1 and AE3 (directed against low and high molecular weight keratins), and involucrin, a protein found within the cellular envelope of the most mature keratinocytes. Twenty‐four hours following thermal damage, there was extensive spillage of keratins and involucrin into the papillary dermis and disarray of all constituents of the necrotic keratinocytes. Early ingrowth of basaloid keratinocytes weakly expressed AE1. By 1 week, keratinocytes expressed AE1 in varying intensities throughout the epidermis. AE3 was present in its normal distribution, staining all but the most basaloid keratinocytes. Involucrin stained cells deep within the epidermis. Six weeks following the initial injury, the staining pattern within the epidermis had returned to normal. Thus, it appears that the regenerating epidermis produces low molecular weight keratins in cells at all levels and forms premature cellular envelopes, perhaps as a protective measure, before expression of these constituents reverts to the normal pattern. These findings suggest that keratinocyte differentiation in wound‐healing following laser‐induced thermal injury is similar to that seen in other types of injury. Observed clinical differences may be attributable to differences in keratinocyte proliferative or migratory capabilities.