Premium
Epidermal keratinocytes as the forefront of the sensory system
Author(s) -
Denda Mitsuhiro,
Nakatani Masashi,
Ikeyama Kazuyuki,
Tsutsumi Moe,
Denda Sumiko
Publication year - 2007
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.1600-0625.2006.00529.x
Subject(s) - sensory system , epidermis (zoology) , neuroscience , nervous system , receptor , peripheral nervous system , perception , free nerve ending , keratinocyte , biology , central nervous system , anatomy , cell culture , biochemistry , genetics
Various sensors that respond to physical or chemical environmental factors have been identified in the peripheral nervous system. Some of them, which respond to mechanical stress, osmotic pressure, temperature and chemical stimuli (such as pH), are also expressed in epidermal keratinocytes. Neurotransmitters and their receptors, as well as receptors that regulate the neuroendocrine system of the skin, are also present in keratinocytes. Thus, broadly speaking, epidermal keratinocytes appear to be equipped with sensing systems similar to those of the peripheral and central nervous systems. It had long been considered that only nerve C‐terminals in the epidermis play a role in skin surface perception. However, building on earlier work on skin receptors and new findings introduced here, we present in this review a novel hypothesis of skin sensory perception, i.e. first, keratinocytes recognize various environmental factors, and then the information is processed and conveyed to the nervous system.