Glycoconjugate expression of cells of human anagen hair follicles during keratinization

Abstract

Changes in the expression of glycoconjugates in cells of the inner root sheath (IRS) and outer root sheath (ORS) of human anagen hair follicles were investigated by lectin histochemistry. Concanavalin A (Con A) and Ricinus communis (RCA-I) stained hair follicle cells regardless of their differentiation stages. In IRS, Ulex europeaus-I (UEA-I) bound to the surface of the cells as soon as they were morphologically defined, and Glycine max (SBA) stained as their differentiation progressed. Innermost (IM) cells of ORS layers were reactive with UEA-I at the stage where Henle's cells were keratinized, while the reactivity of UEA-I was lost at the site of the completion of IRS keratinization where SBA reaction was detected. Staining of both UEA-I and SBA was prominent in other ORS cells at the levels where SBA binding in IM cells became strong. The staining intensity increased up to the position of the follicular isthmus. In addition, a sugar residue recognized by Dolichos biflorus (DBA) was detected in differentiated cells of ORS. In contrast, the DBA reaction was not found at all in cells of IRS, infundibulum, and epidermis. These findings identified a complexity of carbohydrate metabolism in the cells of different layers at various stages of keratinization. IM cells differentiate independently from other ORS cells but seem responsive to the degree of IRS keratinization. All ORS cells possess a unique sugar moiety not found in other keratinocytes either in the hair or epidermis.

Trichodysplasia spinulosa-Associated Polyomavirus Uses a Displaced Binding Site on VP1 to Engage Sialylated Glycolipids

“…Compared to normal hair follicles, TS hair follicles seem devoid of normal hair shafts and papilla but include instead large numbers of eosinophilic, trichohyalin-positive IRS cells [ 45 ]. The composition of cell surface glycans in different skin cells, for example the expression of mostly non-sialylated glycoconjugates in hair follicles during the keratinization process, has been investigated by lectin histochemistry, but these studies are often incomplete [ 46 – 48 ]. In addition, quantitative data and detailed information about the prevalence of sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates and chemical modifications of sialic acids would advance an understanding of the tropism of TSPyV for IRS cells.…”

Lectins and Neoglycoproteins in Histopathology

“…Changes in glycoconjugate expression defined by lectins are observed in disorders of hair growth (Ohno et al, 1990) and in psoriatic epithelium (Bell and Skerrow, 1985). The application of lectins in the diagnosis of a Merkel cell tumor has also been reported (Waibel et al, 1991).…”

The hair follicle enigma

“…[5] With respect to complex type N-glycans, the use of specific fluorescently labelled lectins (saccharide-binding proteins) revealed their differential composition among the different hair follicle compartments. [56][57][58] The discrete distribution of some chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans in both the CTS and ORS [5] strongly suggests that they could play a role in forming the stem cell niche and controlling hair follicle stem cell phenotypic plasticity. [59] Some proteoglycans are known to be involved in the shaping of hair follicle morphogen gradients, while others are involved in hair growth control (Table 2).…”