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Ultrastructural localization of basigin in normal human epidermis

X Chen1, T Kanekura, S Tsuyama

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Kagoshima University Faculty of Medicine, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. takurok@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.

Histochemistry and Cell Biology
|July 17, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Basigin, a protein involved in cell recognition, is localized to microvilli tips on basal epidermal cells. This finding supports its role in epidermal differentiation and keratinocyte development.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Dermatology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Basigin (also known as CD147) is an immunoglobulin superfamily member implicated in cell recognition and differentiation.
  • Previous studies indicated a correlation between basigin expression and epidermal differentiation at the light microscope level.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ultrastructural localization of basigin in normal human epidermal keratinocytes.
  • To further elucidate the role of basigin in epidermal differentiation.

Main Methods:

  • Immunoelectron microscopy was employed to determine the precise location of basigin.
  • Normal human epidermal keratinocytes were used as the experimental model.

Main Results:

  • Basigin labeling was most intense on the membranes of basal cells, decreasing in prickle cells and absent in granular and horny cells.
  • On basal cells, basigin was found on apical and lateral membranes, particularly on microvilli and their tips.
  • Labeling was minimal on the intermicrovillous membrane and absent on desmosomes.

Conclusions:

  • The ultrastructural localization of basigin supports its correlation with epidermal keratinocyte differentiation.
  • Basigin on microvilli tips of keratinocytes may play a role in cell differentiation processes.

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