Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
13:45
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection
Published on: February 7, 2019
9.6K
Pathophysiology of merkel cell.
Prashant Balasaheb Munde1, Shubhangi P Khandekar1, Alka M Dive1
1Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Vidya Shikshan Prasarak Mandal's Dental college and Research Centre, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology : JOMFP
|February 28, 2014
Summary
Merkel cells (MCs) are specialized cells in vertebrate skin, crucial for touch sensation. This review covers their function, development, clinical significance, and the diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and Cellular Biology: Focuses on Merkel cells, their role in touch sensation, and associated malignancies.
Background:
- Merkel cells (MCs) are located in the epidermal basal layer of vertebrates, particularly in touch-sensitive areas.
- Their precise origin remains debated, with theories suggesting neural crest or epidermal keratinocyte differentiation.
- MCs are difficult to identify with light microscopy but are reliably marked by Cytokeratin 20 (CK20).
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of Merkel cells (MCs).
- To elucidate the theoretical background of MC function, development, and clinical importance.
- To introduce Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), its diagnosis, and subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Merkel cell biology and pathology.
- Discussion of histological and immunohistochemical diagnostic methods for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).
- Classification of MCC based on histopathological subtypes.
Main Results:
- Merkel cells (MCs) are integral to tactile sensation in vertebrates.
- Cytokeratin 20 (CK20) is a highly specific marker for identifying MCs.
- Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive malignancy, often occurring in elderly patients, primarily on the head and neck.
Conclusions:
- Merkel cells (MCs) play a vital role in sensory perception.
- Accurate identification of MCs relies on specific markers like CK20 and advanced microscopy.
- Understanding MCC subtypes is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Related Concept Videos
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
6.3K
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.3K
01:24Cells of the Epidermis
7.2K
The epidermis is made of four or five layers of epithelial cells, depending on its location in the body. From deep to superficial, these layers are the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum.
The cells in all these layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes, a type of cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. The keratinocytes in the stratum corneum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by cells from...
The cells in all these layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes, a type of cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. The keratinocytes in the stratum corneum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by cells from...
7.2K
01:12Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
2.4K
The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular...
2.4K
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
4.0K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.0K
01:24Cellular Adaptation IV: Dysplasia and Metaplasia
49
DysplasiaDysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells, characterized by pleomorphism, nuclear abnormalities, and increased mitotic activity. It commonly affects epithelial tissues, including the cervix, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory mucosa, and endometrium. Although it may occur alongside hyperplasia, dysplasia is not a true adaptive response but a preneoplastic change with potential to progress to cancer.When confined above the basement...
49
01:15Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
2.0K
Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR...
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR...
2.0K