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Expressions of rod and cone photoreceptor‐like proteins in human epidermis
Author(s) -
Tsutsumi Moe,
Ikeyama Kazuyuki,
Denda Sumiko,
Nakanishi Jotaro,
Fuziwara Shigeyoshi,
Aoki Hirofumi,
Denda Mitsuhiro
Publication year - 2009
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.1600-0625.2009.00851.x
Subject(s) - rhodopsin , opsin , retina , epidermis (zoology) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , visual phototransduction , human skin , antibody , anatomy , biophysics , retinal , biochemistry , neuroscience , genetics
Previous reports have suggested the existence of photoreceptors for visible radiation at the surface of the human body. Rhodopsin is a well‐known photosensitive protein found in the rod cells of the retina and detects light/dark contrast. Cone opsins are also photosensitive receptors in the cone cells of the retina and detect colour. Here, we describe immunochemical studies using anti‐rhodopsin and anti‐opsin antibodies on human skin. Both mouse retina and human epidermis showed clear immunoreactivity with each antibody. Interestingly, immunoreactivity against longer‐wavelength opsin antibody was observed in the basal layer of the epidermis, while immunoreactivity against rhodopsin and shorter‐wavelength opsin was observed in the upper layer. PCR analysis confirmed the expression of rhodopsin‐like and opsin‐like genes in human retina and the skin. These results suggest that a series of proteins, which play a crucial role in visual perception, are expressed in human epidermis.