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Tensegrity and type 1 dermal dendrocytes in acromegaly
P Quatresooz1, T Hermanns-Lê, A Ciccarelli
1Department of Dermatopathology, University Hospital of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
European Journal of Clinical Investigation
|January 26, 2005
Summary
Acromegaly alters skin structure, affecting collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Dermal dendrocyte numbers decrease with higher IGF-1 levels, indicating persistent changes even with controlled hormones.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Acromegaly causes skin enlargement and doughy texture.
- Changes in dermal extracellular matrix (ECM) and mechanical properties are known.
- Cellular mechanobiological interactions in acromegaly's connective tissue cells remain unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural changes in dermal ECM in acromegaly.
- To assess the number and morphology of factor XIIIa-positive type I dermal dendrocytes (DDs) in acromegaly.
Main Methods:
- Examined 32 acromegaly patients (untreated, active, cured).
- Retrieved maximum and recent insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) dosages.
- Utilized skin biopsies, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, morphometry, and electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Observed collagen-bundle coarsening and acidic glycosaminoglycan deposits.
- Found reduced numbers of dermal dendrocytes (DDs), which were plump with fewer dendrites.
- Correlated decreased DD numbers with higher maximum and recent IGF-1 dosages.
Conclusions:
- Dermal collagen, glycosaminoglycans, and DDs are affected in acromegaly, even with controlled hormone levels.
- Persistent DD conformational changes suggest altered cellular tensegrity.
- Hormonal effects and ECM interactions likely contribute to these persistent changes.