The immunohistochemical localization of lysozyme in human axillary apocrine glands

Lysozyme has been observed in intraluminal secretory products of apocrine glands in specimens of normal human axillary skin. Lysozyme was also observed in an occasional apocrine secretory cell, as well as in leukocytes within vascular lumina and dermal histiocytes. Lysozyme was not observed in sebaceous glands, eccrine glands, or cells of the epidermis. These observations support an epithelial origin of cutaneous lysozyme and suggest a means of further characterization of the origin and/or differentiation of tumors of appendageal origin.