The Journal of investigative dermatology
-
J. Invest. Dermatol. · Mar 1998
Identification of three species of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, and B. afzelii) among isolates from acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans lesions.
In Europe, at least three species of Borrelia are known to be causative agents of Lyme borreliosis: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, and B. afzelii. Observable differences in the molecular characteristics of the three species have led to speculation that they may also differ in their pathogenic potential and/or tissue tropisms. Several studies have found an association between the chronic skin manifestation of Lyme borreliosis, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, and infection by B. afzelii. ⋯ The remaining five isolates possessed large restriction fragment patterns that were typical of B. garinii (MLg2, four isolates from three patients) and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (MLb2, one isolate). The results of 16S ribosomal RNA-specific polymerase chain reaction were concordant with these species designations. These data show that B. afzelii is the predominant, but not the exclusive, etiologic agent of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans.
-
J. Invest. Dermatol. · Feb 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialCutaneous responses to endothelin-1 and histamine in patients with vibration white finger.
Vibration white finger (VWF) is the episodic blanching of the fingers that occurs in response to cold in those who work with hand-held vibrating tools. Clinically the condition differs from primary Raynaud's phenomenon as persistent pain and paresthesia are common in the hands and arms and occur independently of the "white attacks." We have previously reported a decrease in protein gene product 9.5 and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the digital skin of individuals with VWF. In this study, we have sought to determine whether this deficit of immunoreactive sensory-motor nerves has a functional counterpart in vivo. ⋯ In contrast, the area of erythema induced by intradermal injection of calcitonin gene-related peptide at both 21 degrees C and 4 degrees C was of a similar size in patients with VWF and in heavy manual workers. These results indicate that the neuroneal deficit identified by immunohistochemistry in the digital skin of patients with VWF has a functional counterpart in vivo and is evident as a reduced ability to propagate an axon-reflex vasodilator response when challenged with histamine and ET-1. Furthermore, these results enable patients with VWF to be differentiated from both asymptomatic vibration-exposed workers, in whom the histamine- and ET-1-induced flares are normal, and those with primary Raynaud's disease, in whom the ET-1 flare is reduced and the histamine-induced flare is normal.
-
J. Invest. Dermatol. · Jan 1998
Abnormal transglutaminase 1 expression pattern in a subset of patients with erythrodermic autosomal recessive ichthyosis.
An autosomal recessive ichthyosis characterized by collodian membrane at birth followed by generalized skin redness and fine, light-colored scales has been termed nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (CIE). CIE has often been classified together with the other major form of recessive ichthyosis without internal organ involvement, lamellar ichthyosis, which is characterized by minimal erythema and a coarser, darker scale pattern. Recently, autosomal recessive ichthyosis has been associated with keratinocyte transglutaminase (TGase1) defects in some patients. ⋯ CIE keratinocytes with abnormal TGase1 localization expressed full-length TGase1 mRNA and protein but demonstrated transglutaminase activity intermediate between normal and the minimal activity seen in lamellar ichthyosis patient cells. The abnormal TGase1 expression pattern and CIE clinical features were recapitulated in epidermis regenerated in vivo on immune deficient mice from CIE patient keratinocytes. These studies describe a specific abnormality in TGase1 intrinsic to keratinocytes in a subset of CIE patients and suggest that this abnormality may be involved in the disordered epidermal differentiation seen in this disorder.
-
J. Invest. Dermatol. · Jul 1997
Protein expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 in keratinocytes during wound healing in rat skin.
Fibroblast growth factors have been shown to play important roles in wound healing. To define their sites of action, we examined the expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) during burn wound healing in rat skin by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. In cryostat sections of intact skin, little or no staining was observed. ⋯ A single band was detected with an apparent molecular weight of 120 kDa, corresponding to the short membrane-bound form of rat FGFR-1. Our study indicates that FGFR-1 is expressed during wound healing, mainly in regenerating epidermis and to some extent in blood vessels of the dermis. Fibroblast growth factors may affect the proliferation and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes as well as angiogenesis in the dermis via the FGFR-1 expressed during wound healing.
-
J. Invest. Dermatol. · May 1996
Dermal mast cell activation by autoantibodies against the high affinity IgE receptor in chronic urticaria.
Previous studies identified autoantibodies against the IgE high affinity receptor alpha-chain, Fc epsilon RI alpha, in sera of selected patients with severe chronic idiopathic urticaria. We have now determined the incidence of anti-Fc epsilon RI alpha autoantibodies in a group of 163 patients. Intradermal injection of autologous serum caused skin reactions indicative of mast cell degranulation in 98 (60%) patients. ⋯ Preincubation of sera or the IgG fraction with a recombinant alpha-chain of Fc epsilon RI inhibited histamine release from mast cells and basophils. Further studies with the mouse anti-human Fc epsilon RI alpha antibody 29C6 showed that mast cells and basophils were similarly sensitive to IgG-mediated direct cross-linking of Fc epsilon RI, with 0.01-1.0 micrograms/ml 29C6 evoking histamine release in each case. These studies demonstrate that circulating levels of anti-Fc epsilon RI alpha autoantibodies mediate histamine release from skin mast cells in vitro and, taken together with in vivo evidence of mast cell degranulation following intradermal injection of autologous serum, support the concept that anti-Fc epsilon RI alpha autoantibodies are relevant to the pathogenesis of severe chronic urticaria in about 25% of patients.