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Cutaneous Ultrastructural Features of the Flaky Skin ( fsn ) Mouse Mutation
Author(s) -
Morita Katsuko,
Hogan Margaret E.,
Nanney Lillian B.,
King Lloyd E.,
Manabe Motomu,
Sun TungTien,
Sundberg John P.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1995.tb03412.x
Subject(s) - acanthosis , dermis , pathology , psoriasis , epidermis (zoology) , ultrastructure , biology , basement membrane , papillary dermis , dermal papillae , human skin , dermoepidermal junction , anatomy , hair follicle , hyperkeratosis , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , immunology , genetics
An autosomal recessive genetic disease with clinical and histopathological skin features resembling human psoriasis vulgaris occurs naturally in flaky skin mice ( fsn/fsn ). Affected mice are normal at birth, except for a hypochromic anemia. Subsequently, they develop hyperkeratotic plaques and acanthosis with elongation of rete ridges. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed a greatly thickened epidermis, a sparsity of hairs and scale accumulations on the epidermal surface. Hair shafts had conspicuous pits, striations, and exophytic protrusions. Nails were bent at a 90° angle with surface irregularities and accumulations of scale at the nail base. Transmission electron microscopic examination showed increased epidermal thickness, mitochondrial aberrations, and intraepidermal invasion by neutrophils. Keratohyalin abnormalities were detected using immunocytochemical staining for profilaggrin. At the dermal‐epidermal junction, numerous macrophages and mast cells were seen in close promixity to focal dissolutions of the basement membrane. A high density of collagen fibers and cellular infiltrates were evident in the papillary dermis. This constellation of ultrastructural aberrations is typically found in psoriasis vulgaris and supports the theory that the flaky skin mouse mutation is a naturally occurring analog to one variety of human psoriasis vulgaris.