title: Nature of so-called "metaplasia of the apocrine epithelium". Macrophages attack apocrine epithelium". Macrophages attack apocrine epithelium.
abstract: Immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic studies were performed on the lesion termed "metaplasia of the apocrine epithelium." which was seen in association with an apocrine adenocarcinoma. The cells of this so-called "metaplasia" lacked cytokeratin, which was present in the apocrine epithelium. Surprisingly, the lesion ultrastructurally consisted mainly of terminally differentiated macrophages, the cytoplasms of which were filled with numerous phagosomes and lipid droplets. The cells lacked a desmosomal connection at their borders and some had Langerhans granule-like structures in the cytoplasm. The luminal wall was often infiltrated with macrophages and lymphocytes, and, in some portions, was replaced by macrophages with a large cytoplasm filled with numerous phagosomes. The immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings indicate that the lesion is not composed of cells of the apocrine epithelial origin, but of macrophages that have ingested apocrine epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyushu University, Beppu, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urabe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000473:pathology*