Expressions of rod and cone photoreceptor‐like proteins in human epidermis

Abstract

Previous reports have suggested the existence of photoreceptors for visible radiation at the surface of the human body. Rhodopsin is a well-known photosensitive protein found in the rod cells of the retina and detects light ⁄ dark contrast. Cone opsins are also photosensitive receptors in the cone cells of the retina and detect colour. Here, we describe immunochemical studies using anti-rhodopsin and anti-opsin antibodies on human skin. Both mouse retina and human epidermis showed clear immunoreactivity with each antibody. Interestingly, immunoreactivity against longer-wavelength opsin antibody was observed in the basal layer of the epidermis, while immunoreactivity against rhodopsin and shorter-wavelength opsin was observed in the upper layer. PCR analysis confirmed the expression of rhodopsin-like and opsin-like genes in human retina and the skin. These results suggest that a series of proteins, which play a crucial role in visual perception, are expressed in human epidermis.

Physical and Chemical Factors that Improve Epidermal Permeability Barrier Homeostasis

“…Cone opsins are also photosensitive receptors in the cone cells of the retina and detect color. We have reported immunochemical studies using antirhodopsin and anti-opsin antibodies on human skin (Tsutsumi 2009). Both mouse retina and human epidermis showed clear immunoreactivity with each antibody.…”

Sensory Systems of Epidermal Keratinocytes

“…Cone opsins are also photosensitive receptors in the cone cells of the retina and detect color. We carried out immunochemical studies using antirhodopsin and antiopsin antibodies on human skin [ 107 ] . Both mouse retina and human epidermis showed clear immunoreactivity with each antibody.…”

“…These results led us to hypothesize that epidermal keratinocytes might sense these environmental factors. Indeed, we found that photoreceptor proteins, which are expressed in retina, are also expressed in epidermal keratinocytes [ 107 ] . In addition, voltage-gated calcium channels are expressed in keratinocytes [ 38 ] .…”

Evidence for distributed light sensing in the skin of cuttlefish,Sepia officinalis

“…Anolis, Xenopus and some cichlid chromatophores, as well as the structurally reflecting iridophores of neon tetras, Paracheirodon innesi (Lythgoe et al 1984;Oshima 2001;Ban et al 2006;, and a number of invertebrates (Steven 1963;Yerramilli & Johnsen 2010). Rhodopsin and opsin-like genes are even expressed in human skin, where they may have some physiological function (Tsutsumi et al 2009). Ban et al (2006) showed that there are multiple types of visual pigments in the skin of the freshwater fish Tilapia, which introduces the possibility that dermal colour and pattern changes for camouflage and communication are regulated in situ, i.e.…”