title: Order and disorder in corneocyte adhesion.
abstract: Epidermal cornified cells are attached to each other with modified desmosomes, namely corneodesmosomes. Changes in the corneodesmosome degradation process influence the total thickness of the stratum corneum and surface appearance of the skin. The major extracellular constituents of corneodesmosomes are desmoglein 1, desmocollin 1 and corneodesmosin. The intracellular part of corneodesmosomes is cross-linked into cornified cell envelopes. Corneodesmosomes are degraded from the central surface area of each cell. Peripheral corneodesmosomes retain structural integrity up to the skin surface. A hypothesis where tight junctions in the stratum corneum play a role in this spatial difference in corneodesmosome degradation has recently been proposed. Genetic defects in corneodesmosin and inhibitors for proteases involved in corneodesmosome degradation result in accelerated desquamation and severe barrier impairment, presenting as the inflammatory type of peeling skin syndrome and Netherton syndrome, respectively. Abnormal corneodesmosome degradation is also found in more common skin diseases including ichthyosis vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis vulgaris, lichen planus and soap-induced xerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan. akemi@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishida-Yamamoto
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Igawa
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kishibe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000209:etiology; D051187:Desmocollins / Q000378:metabolism; D051183:Desmoglein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000502:physiology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007039:Hypotrichosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000209:etiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D056770:Netherton Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory / Q000235:genetics; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D000074163:Serine Peptidase Inhibitor Kazal-Type 5; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: C109656:CDSN protein, human; C081560:DSC1 protein, human; C495297:DSG1 protein, human; D051187:Desmocollins; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D053491:Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory; C120650:SPINK5 protein, human; D000074163:Serine Peptidase Inhibitor Kazal-Type 5; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C485596:ST14 protein, human