title: Effects of thallium ion on cellular components of the skin.
abstract: Thallium salts have been employed by dermatologists to cause depilation, and dermatologic features are prominent in thallium overdose. These features include alopecia and follicular hyperkeratosis. Administration of thallium to pregnant animals results in limb deformities, similar to those seen after thalidomide embryopathy. These findings suggest that thallium may act on keratinocytes, melanocytes, and endothelial cells. We show that thallium exerts pleiotropic effects on proliferation, cell shape and motility of multiple cell types. These findings may help explain the clinical findings of thallotoxicosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Arbiser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wooten
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Byers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013793:Thallium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D011498:Protein Precursors; C032253:involucrin; D013793:Thallium