Quantitative analysis of bikunin-laden mast cells in follicular eruptions and chronic skin lesions of atopic dermatitis.
Bikunin, an inhibitor of serine proteases, is widely distributed in human tissues, including the skin, and may inhibit tryptase and modulate allergic inflammation. The purpose of the present study was to compare follicular eruptions (FE), so-called atopic skin or perifollicular accentuation, with atopic dermatitis (AD) lesions (ADL) by immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies to bikunin and tryptase. Immunohistochemically, bikunin was colocalized with tryptase in dermal mast cells, and a small quantity of bikunin was also deposited in the intercellular spaces in FE and ADL. The number of bikunin-laden mast cells per 0.78 mm(2) of skin was 78.1+/-7.1 (mean+/-SEM, n=14) in FE, 25.4+/-2.3 (n=10) in normal skin from children and infants, 91.3+/-11.8 (n=10) in ADL, 25.6+/-4.8 (n=5) in nonlesional skin of AD, and 27.8+/-2.0 (n=13) in normal adult skin. The difference between FE and normal control skin from children and infants, between FE and nonlesional skin of AD, and between lesional and nonlesional skin of AD were significant. Based on the above findings and the occasional presence of spongiosis and lymphocyte infiltration, in FE moderate inflammation is apparent histopathologically even though little inflammation is apparent clinically.
Isogai
Rieko
R
Department of Dermatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2, Ohnohigashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka 589, Japan.
Matsukura
Akiko
A
Aragane
Yoshinori
Y
Maeda
Akira
A
Matsukura
Masaharu
M
Yudate
Tatsuo
T
Sugihara
Kazuko
K
Takahashi
Masae
M
Aisu
Kinue
K
Tezuka
Tadashi
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D020405:Dermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014360:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kunitz Soybean; D053802:Tryptases
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C109148:SPINT2 protein, human; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D014360:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kunitz Soybean; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053802:Tryptases