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ABSENCE OF MERKEL CELLS IN LESIONAL SKIN
Author(s) -
BOSE SUMIT KUMAR
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1994.tb02859.x
Subject(s) - medicine , merkel cell , dermatology , merkel cell carcinoma , skin tumor , pathology , carcinoma , cancer , carcinogenesis
Background . In vitiligo, other than loss of melanocytes and melanin pigment in the lesional skin, keratinocytes are also Involved. Human fetal Merkel cells are now generally considered to be derived from the epidermis. 1 To date, no observations on Merkel cells in lasional skin of active vitiligo have been reported. Methods . Merkel ceils were identified by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy using the monoclonal antibody TR0MA1. Results . No TROMA 1‐positive cells were observed in the vitiliginous skin lesions in any of the specimens examined, whereas normal numbers of these cells were seen in the adjacent pigmented skin. Conclusions . This finding suggests that the processes that lead to damage of keratinocytes in vitiligo also involve other keratin‐expressing cells such as the Merkel ceils.