Age-associated decrease of CD1d protein production in normal human skin.
BACKGROUND
CD1d belongs to a family of antigen-presenting molecules structurally related to the classical major histocompatibility complex class I proteins.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression pattern of CD1d protein in normal human skin with ageing.


METHODS
Twenty normal human skin biopsy specimens were obtained from 20 healthy individuals. The latter were divided into three age groups: children (5-20 years), adults (21-50 years) and the elderly (51-81 years). The intensity of CD1d protein production was examined in human skin using immunofluorescent and immunoalkalinephosphatase staining methods.


RESULTS
In the epidermis, CD1d protein production was strong in the skin of the children and declined gradually with age, being moderate in adults and weak in the elderly. As compared with values in children, there was a statistically significant decrease (P<0.05) in CD1d protein production in the elderly. In the dermis, CD1d protein production was strong in the fibroblasts, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, blood vessels and hair follicles regardless of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study reports a decreased CD1d protein production in normal human skin with ageing. The clinical ramifications of these observations mandate further investigations.
Adly
M A
MA
Department of Zoology, Sohag Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Sohag, Egypt, and Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
Assaf
H A
HA
Hussein
M R
MR
Neuber
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000276:immunology
D018949:Antigens, CD1; D055610:Antigens, CD1d; C526877:CD1D protein, human