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The capsule of human Meissner corpuscles: immunohistochemical evidence
Author(s) -
GarcíaPiqueras Jorge,
Cobo Ramón,
Cárcaba Lucía.,
GarcíaMesa Yolanda,
Feito Jorge,
Cobo Juan,
GarcíaSuárez Olivia,
Vega José A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/joa.13139
Subject(s) - capsule , nestin , endoneurium , vimentin , immunohistochemistry , cd34 , biology , intermediate filament , pathology , anatomy , dermal papillae , cytoskeleton , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell , medicine , hair follicle , cell , sciatic nerve , neural stem cell , botany , genetics
Meissner corpuscles are cutaneous mechanoreceptors that are usually located in the dermal papillae of human glabrous skin. Structurally, these sensory corpuscles consist of a mechanoreceptive sensory neuron surrounded by non‐myelinating lamellar Schwann‐like cells. Some authors have described a partially developed fibroblastic capsule of endoneurial or perineurial origin around Meissner corpuscles; however, others have noted that these structures are non‐encapsulated. As there is continuity between the periaxonic cells forming the sensory corpuscles and the cells of the nerve trunks, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of endoneurial (CD34 antigen) or perineurial [Glucose transporter 1 (Glut1)] markers in human cutaneous Meissner corpuscles. We also investigated the immunohistochemical patterns of nestin and vimentin (the main intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton of endoneurial and perineurial cells, respectively) in Meissner corpuscles. The most important finding from this study was that CD34‐positive cells formed a partial/complete capsule of endoneurial origin around most Meissner corpuscles, without signs of other perineurial Glut1‐positive elements. However, the cytoskeletal proteins of the capsular CD34‐positive cells did not include either nestin or vimentin, so the cytoskeletal composition of these cells remains to be established. Finally, the intensity of the immunoreactivity for CD34 in the capsule decreased with ageing, sometimes becoming completely absent in the oldest individuals. In conclusion, we report the first immunohistochemical evidence of the capsule of Meissner corpuscles in humans and demonstrate the endoneurial origin of the capsule.