Chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood. Immunological and ultrastructural studies on the melanocyte--dermal junction.
Ultrastructural study of a case of benign chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood revealed the presence of melanocytes in the base of the blister. The melanocyte anchorage mechanism is described. The absence of labelling by bullous pemphigoid antibodies on the base of the blister, where melanocytes persist, indicates that the antigens recognized by these autoantibodies do not exist in the melanocyte basal membrane-contact zones. This suggests that the chemical nature of the melanocyte dermal junction anchorage system is different from that of the hemidesmosomes.
D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D000941:Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A