Hailey-Hailey disease: a widespread abnormality of cell adhesion.
Suction has been used to investigate cell adhesion in clinically normal skin in Hailey-Hailey disease. We have demonstrated that there is a widespread subclinical abnormality in keratinocyte adhesion in this disease. There may be a synthesis of functionally deficient adhesion junctions, increased breakdown of adhesion junctions or abnormalities in other adhesion proteins in the epidermis in Hailey-Hailey disease. The findings contrast with those in Darier's disease in which abnormal cell adhesion was only demonstrable in clinically involved skin.
Burge
S M
SM
Department of Dermatology, Slade Hospital, Oxford, U.K.
Millard
P R
PR
Wojnarowska
F
F
D000328:Adult; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D013396:Suction