Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) immunoreactivity in human cutaneous nerves and sensory corpuscles.
BACKGROUND
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) binds both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), which are currently considered among putative growth factors playing a role in the nervous system. EGFr and their ligands have been localized in the mammalian peripheral nervous system. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether nerves and sensory corpuscles supplying human glabrous skin express EGFr.


METHODS
Formaldehyde fixed, paraffin embedded samples of finger-tip digital skin obtained from adult healthy subjects were processed for indirect PAP immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against an epitope of the intracellular domain of EGFr. To ascertain the localization of EGFr immunoreactivity, neurofilament proteins (NFP), S100 protein (S100P), and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were studied in parallel to label axons, Schwann cells, and perineurial cells, respectively, as well as their corpuscular derivatives.


RESULTS
A variable intensity of EGFr immunostaining was regularly observed in the perineurium and Schwann cells, and occasionally in the axons of nerve bundles. EGFr immunoreactivity was also present in the axon and lamellar cells of Meissner corpuscles, and within the axon, inner-core, outer-core, and capsule of Pacinian corpuscles.


CONCLUSIONS
Present results demonstrate that human cutaneous nerves and sensory corpuscles express EGFr suggesting a role for peptides able to bind EGFr, i.e., EGF and TGF alpha, in the human peripheral nervous sensory system.
Vega
J A
JA
Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain.
Vazquez
E
E
Naves
F J
FJ
Calzada
B
B
del Valle
M E
ME
Represa
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism*; D010141:Pacinian Corpuscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D066246:ErbB Receptors