title: Basement membrane zone and dermal extracellular matrix of the vulva, vagina and amnion: An immunohistochemical study with comparison with non-reproductive epithelium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The basement membrane zone (BMZ) is an anatomically defined region present in all types of skin and mucosa, linking the epithelium to the mesenchyme with a complex structure to provide adhesion. Altered antigenic expression of the BMZ is implicated in interface dermatoses, and the BMZ is targeted by autoantibodies in subepidermal immunobullous dermatoses. This study aims to compare the antigenic expression of the BMZ and the dermal extracellular matrix in female genital skin and mucosa and amnion, with non-reproductive skin and mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  An indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to compare the antigenic expression of hemidesmosome, lamina lucida, anchoring filaments, lamina densa, anchoring fibrils and extracellular matrix in samples of non-reproductive skin (three), oral mucosa (three), vulval skin (two), vagina (three) and amnion (four).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antigenic expression was similar in the stratified epithelium of reproductive and non-reproductive skin and mucosa, but differed in the simple cuboidal epithelium of amnion, which had reduced expression of dermal-associated antigens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BMZ and dermal extracellular matrix of vagina and vulva are very similar to those of non-reproductive skin and mucosa despite their various functions, but differs from amnion. Their antigenic expression does not fully account for the anatomical distribution of immunobullous and interface dermatoses.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Ching-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Shu-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prenter
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Fenella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wojnarowska
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D024143:Collagen Type VII / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D022002:Hemidesmosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019063:Tenascin / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014844:Vulva / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000097794:Kalinin
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D024143:Collagen Type VII; D005340:Fibrinogen; D007797:Laminin; D019063:Tenascin; D000097794:Kalinin; C121346:laminin 1