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Neurochemical markers in human cutaneous Merkel cells
Author(s) -
Fantini Fabrizio,
Johansson Olle
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.1995.tb00061.x
Subject(s) - neurochemical , merkel cell , medicine , biology , neuroscience , pathology , merkel cell carcinoma , carcinoma
Merkel cells (MCs) are specialized sensory cells widely distributed in the epithclia of vertebrates. A variable immunohistochemical pattern of neuronal and neurotransmitter markers has been demonstrated in MCs of several species including man. In the present study, we investigated the expression of neurochemical markers in a selected population of human cutaneous MCs by immunofluorescence. The structural neural proteins protein gene product 9.5 and neuron‐specific enolase were found to be the most reliable markers for MC identification. Moreover, neurofil‐ament immunoreactivity was shown in a small subset of epidermal MCs. Among the neurotransmitter markers, evidence for expression of calcitonin gene‐related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide histidine isoleucine amide, neuropeptide Y, neurokinin A, galanin, substance P, som‐atostatin and phenylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase was found. These immunoreactivities were highly variable as far as number of positive cells and staining intensity were concerned. The results indicate that a complex and heterogenous immunophenotype can be expressed even within a homogeneous population of human MCs.