title: Somatostatin receptors are strongly expressed in palmoplantar sweat glands and ducts: studies of normal and palmoplantar pustulosis skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The acrosyringium is the target for inflammation in the chronic and intensely inflammatory skin disease palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP). The sweat-gland apparatus seems to be an immunocompetent structure that probably contributes to skin defence. Furthermore, the sweat gland and duct may be a hitherto unrecognized neuroendocrine organ.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To obtain further information about the neuroendocrine properties of the sweat-gland apparatus by examining expression of the somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) 1-5 in healthy palmar skin and in PPP skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsy specimens were taken from 25 patients with PPP and 25 healthy controls. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to investigate expression of SSTRs 1-5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SSTRs 1-5 were expressed in both epidermal and endothelial structures. The staining intensity of the sweat-gland apparatus was more pronounced than that of the epidermis. Expression differed significantly between lesional PPP and normal plantar skin, with increased expression of SSTRs 3 and 4 in ducts in epidermis, and decreased expression of SSTR 1 in ducts in both papillary and reticular dermis. In specimens with pronounced inflammation, numerous dendritic cells with strong expression of SSTRs 1, 2 and 4 were seen, especially in the papillary dermis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of SSTRs in palmoplantar skin, and specifically at high density in the sweat glands and ducts, might be of particular importance in skin neuroimmunoendocrinology. Although the relevance of the changes in SSTR expression in PPP skin compared with normal skin is unclear, our hypothesis is that these differences might influence the function of both the neuroendocrine and neuroimmunological properties of palmoplantar skin, especially in the sweat-gland apparatus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden. eva.hagforsen@medsci.uu.se
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hagforsen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Michaëlsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stridsberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin