P-cadherin expression in skin peeled with phenol or trichloroacetic acid (TCA)

P-cadherin expression patterns were studied in trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or phenol treated skin. The expression was absent or very weak on the basal cell surfaces by day 2. Seven days after peeling, P-cadherin was clearly distributed in a continuous granular pattern over the cell surface of the entire epidermis of the 40% TCA treated skin, in a weak granular pattern on a few suprabasal cells and basal cells of the phenol treated skin, and very weakly expressed on the lateral surfaces and in the cytoplasm of basal cells of the 60% TCA treated skin. Based on the present results and previous reports, it is likely that there are distinct patterns of P cadherin expression. Furthermore, a specific type of P cadherin expression might be involved in wound healing in general, which could provide new insights into tissue repair mechanisms after chemical peeling.