A serotonin-like immunoreactivity is present in human cutaneous melanocytes.
Immunohistochemistry was applied in the investigation of the possible existence of serotonin in human skin. It was found that epidermal melanocytes express a serotonin-like immunoreactivity. The immunoreactivity was associated with both the cytoplasm and the cellular membrane, though the latter was only found in certain cells. The serotonin anti-serum labeled the same cells as NKI-beteb, which is known as a reliable marker of melanocytes. Blocking experiments showed that both serotonin and NKI-beteb have different epitopes in the melanocytes. In in vitro studies, serotonin-like immunoreactivity appeared in approximately 90% of cultured human melanocytes, and was found both in the cytoplasm and also in the nuclei. Thus, we believe the melanocytes to be the origin of serotonin (or a serotonin-like molecule) in the skin.
Johansson
O
O
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Liu
P Y
PY
Bondesson
L
L
Nordlind
K
K
Olsson
M J
MJ
Löntz
W
W
Verhofstad
A
A
Liang
Y
Y
Gangi
S
S
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin