title: Immunohistochemical characterization of human cutaneous mast cells in urticaria pigmentosa (cutaneous mastocytosis)
abstract: To clarify the origin and function of human cutaneous mast cells (CMCs), immunohistochemical characterization was done in 19 cases of urticaria pigmentosa (cutaneous mastocytosis) using 9 antibodies (anti-leukocyte common antigen, MX-PanB, anti-lysozyme, anti- alpha 1-antitrypsin, anti- alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, anti-vimentin, anti-neuron-specific enolase, anti-factor VIII-related antigen, and anti-ACTH). CMCs showed positive reactions with anti-alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and anti-vimentin in almost all of the specimens. In more than half of the specimens, CMCs were stained positively with anti-alpha 1-antitrypsin, MX-PanB, and anti-factor VIII-related antigen. Anti-leukocyte common antigen and anti-ACTH also showed positive reactions in some specimens. These results confirm the existence of vimentin filaments in CMCs and suggest a functional role of CMCs in hemostasis via factor VIII. Furthermore, immunohistochemical similarity between CMCs and granulocyte/macrophage-group cells is also suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000032:analysis; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D014582:Urticaria Pigmentosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D014746:Vimentin; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009113:Muramidase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase