Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Basal keratinocyte subsets: ultrastructural and morphometric features.

M Zampetti1, A Fattorossi, T Grieco

  • 1Istituto di Dermatologia, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

Acta Dermato-Venereologica
|January 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Colorectal cancer patients-derived immunity-organoid platform unveils cancer-specific tissue markers associated with immunotherapy resistance.

Cell death & disease·2024
Same author

Telogen effluvium in SARS-CoV-2 infection: Histological aspects.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV·2023
Same author

Lymphomatoid drug reaction developed after BNT162b2 (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine manifesting as pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta-like eruption.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV·2021
Same author

Successful use of dupilumab for the treatment of atopic dermatitis on the genitals, a neglected anatomical site.

Clinical and experimental dermatology·2021
Same author

Dupilumab in adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: a 32-week real-world experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinical and experimental dermatology·2021
Same author

Dupilumab therapy of atopic dermatitis of the elderly: a multicentre, real-life study.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV·2020
Same journal

A Facial Lesion with Cord-like Induration and Ring-like Appearance on MRI: A Quiz.

Acta dermato-venereologica·2026
Same journal

Real-world Outcomes of Adalimumab in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A 10-year Retrospective Longitudinal Study.

Acta dermato-venereologica·2026
Same journal

An 8-year-old Girl with Multiple Whitish Dots on the Hair Shaft: A Quiz.

Acta dermato-venereologica·2026
Same journal

A Congenital Subcutaneous Tumour of the Scalp in a Child: A Quiz.

Acta dermato-venereologica·2026
Same journal

Commentary on: "The Effects of Sun Exposure and Pigmentation Phenotype on Prognosis in Metastatic Melanoma".

Acta dermato-venereologica·2026
Same journal

Treatment Response to JAK Inhibitors in Long-standing Alopecia Areata (≥8 Years): A Real-world Observational Study.

Acta dermato-venereologica·2026
See all related articles

Human epidermis contains two types of basal keratinocytes: serrated basal keratinocytes (SBK) for anchoring and non-serrated basal keratinocytes (NSBK) for turnover. Morphometric analysis confirmed NSBK are smaller and more regularly shaped than SBK.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Cell Biology
  • Histology

Background:

  • The basal layer of the epidermis contains keratinocytes crucial for skin structure and function.
  • Two distinct populations, serrated basal keratinocytes (SBK) and non-serrated basal keratinocytes (NSBK), have been subjectively identified based on ultrastructure.
  • SBK are associated with dermal-epidermal anchoring, while NSBK are considered epidermal stem cells involved in turnover.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively investigate the morphological differences between SBK and NSBK.
  • To provide objective, data-driven evidence supporting the existence of distinct basal keratinocyte types.

Main Methods:

  • Electron microscopy was employed to visualize basal keratinocytes.
  • Computer-assisted morphometric analysis was used to measure cell and nuclear perimeters and assess shape.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Quantitative data were collected on cell size and shape factor (contour index).

    • Main Results:

    • Non-serrated basal keratinocytes (NSBK) exhibited consistently smaller nuclear and cytoplasmic perimeters compared to serrated basal keratinocytes (SBK).
    • NSBK demonstrated a lower shape factor (contour index), indicating a more regular cell membrane surface.
    • These quantitative findings align with and support previous subjective observations of ultrastructural differences.

    Conclusions:

    • The basal cell layer of human epidermis comprises at least two morphologically distinct keratinocyte populations: SBK and NSBK.
    • Quantitative morphological data provide robust evidence for the differentiation of basal keratinocytes based on ultrastructural characteristics.
    • These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of epidermal structure and stem cell biology.