Phenotypical and molecular profiling of the extraneuronal cholinergic system of the skin.
We present molecular and protein profiling of all acetylcholine receptors (ACh-R) in human scalp skin using PCR, in situ hybridization and double-labeling immunofluorescence. Within the epidermis, the nicotinic (n)ACh-R subunits, alpha3, alpha5, beta2, and beta4 were expressed in the basal cell layer (BCL) and in a single cell layer in the stratum granulosum; alpha9 was expressed in the basal and lower spinous layers. alpha7, alpha10, and beta1 were preferentially detected in the upper spinous and granular layers. Of the muscarinic (m)ACh-R, m1 and m4 were found in the suprabasal layers, whereas m2, m3, and m5 remained restricted to the lower layers. In the outer root sheath of the hair follicle, all ACh-R except alpha9, beta1, and m4 were found in the BCL whereas the alpha9, m4, and m5 ACh-R were restricted to the central cell layer. The alpha5, beta1, beta2, m1-m4 chains were strongly expressed in the inner root sheath. Undifferentiated sebocytes expressed the alpha3, alpha9, beta4, m3-m5 ACh-R whereas alpha7, beta2, beta4, m2, and m4 were found in mature sebocytes. In sweat glands, the alpha3*, alpha7, and m2-m5 ACh-R were most prominent in the myoepithelial cells whereas alpha9, beta2, m1, m3, and m4 ACh-R were present in the acinar cells. Taken together, our data result in a complete molecular map of the extraneuronal cholinergic system of the skin that may be translated into distinct functional reaction patterns.
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany. Hjalmar.Kurzen@nexgo.de
Hjalmar
H
Kurzen
Hans
H
Berger
Claudia
C
Jäger
Wolfgang
W
Hartschuh
Helmut
H
Näher
Alexei
A
Gratchev
Sergij
S
Goerdt
Martin
M
Deichmann
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012535:Scalp / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000502:physiology; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000502:physiology
D000906:Antibodies; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic