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Presence of immunoreactive β‐endorphin in human skin
Author(s) -
Wintzen M.,
De Winter S.,
OutLuiting J. J.,
Van Duinen S. G.,
Vermeer B. J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0625.2001.100502.x
Subject(s) - proopiomelanocortin , epidermis (zoology) , sweat , human skin , follicular phase , immunohistochemistry , radioimmunoassay , keratinocyte , chemistry , endocrinology , medicine , biology , in vitro , anatomy , hypothalamus , biochemistry , genetics
The production and its induction by ultraviolet radiation (UVR) of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)‐derived peptides by keratinocytes has been reported, albeit not consistently. Recently we demonstrated that only under specific culturing conditions human keratinocytes are capable of producing a β‐endorphin (βE)‐like peptide with the characteristics of β‐lipotropin (βLPH). Here the presence and UV‐induction of βE‐immunoreactivity (βE‐IR) in keratinocytes in human skin in vivo was investigated. βE‐IR was detectable by immunohistochemistry in keratinocytes of the follicular matrix and to some extent in cells of sweat ducts, but was absent from epidermal keratinocytes. Absence of βE‐IR was confirmed by radioimmunoassay of HPLC‐fractionated extracts of normal epidermis. Repeated exposure to solar‐simulated UVR had no effect. This investigation is the first to demonstrate the presence of βE‐immunoreactive material in the follicular matrix of corporal hairs and in duct cells of sweat glands. The possible meaning of these results is discussed.