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Ultrastructural localization of basigin in normal human epidermis.
X Chen1, T Kanekura, S Tsuyama
1Department of Dermatology, Kagoshima University Faculty of Medicine, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. takurok@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
Histochemistry and Cell Biology
|July 17, 2001
Summary
Basigin, a protein involved in cell recognition, is localized to microvilli tips on basal epidermal cells. This finding supports its role in epidermal differentiation and keratinocyte development.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Dermatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Basigin (also known as CD147) is an immunoglobulin superfamily member implicated in cell recognition and differentiation.
- Previous studies indicated a correlation between basigin expression and epidermal differentiation at the light microscope level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural localization of basigin in normal human epidermal keratinocytes.
- To further elucidate the role of basigin in epidermal differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Immunoelectron microscopy was employed to determine the precise location of basigin.
- Normal human epidermal keratinocytes were used as the experimental model.
Main Results:
- Basigin labeling was most intense on the membranes of basal cells, decreasing in prickle cells and absent in granular and horny cells.
- On basal cells, basigin was found on apical and lateral membranes, particularly on microvilli and their tips.
- Labeling was minimal on the intermicrovillous membrane and absent on desmosomes.
Conclusions:
- The ultrastructural localization of basigin supports its correlation with epidermal keratinocyte differentiation.
- Basigin on microvilli tips of keratinocytes may play a role in cell differentiation processes.