Increased nerve growth factor and its receptors in atopic dermatitis: an immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Evidence suggests that neurotrophins may regulate certain immune functions and inflammation. In the present study, the localization and distribution of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors were explored using immunohistochemical methods, with the aim of detecting the cause of the neurohyperplasia in early lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD). In AD involved skin, strong NGF-immunoreactive (IR) cells were observed in the epidermis. In some cases, a huge number of infiltrating cells with stronger NGF immunoreactivity was seen mainly in the dermal papillae. Some trkA immunoreactivity was observed in the outer membrane of cells in the basal and spinal layers of the epidermis. In the papillary dermis, a larger number of cells demonstrated strong trkA immunoreactivity. The p75 NGFr-IR nerve fibre profiles were increased (900 per mm(2); p<0.001) compared to normal [the involved skin also differed from the uninvolved skin (p<0.05)] in the dermal papillae. These nerve fibres were larger, coarser and branched, some of them terminated at p75 NGFr-IR basal cells, and also revealed a stronger fluorescence staining than the controls or the uninvolved skin. In normal healthy volunteers and AD uninvolved skin, the NGF immunoreactivity was weak in the basal layer of epidermis. Only a few trkA positive cells were seen in the basal layer of the epidermis and upper dermis. The IR epidermal basal cells revealed a striking patchy arrangement with strong p75 NGFr immunostaining in the peripheral part of the cells, and short and thick NGFr-IR nerve fibre profiles appeared as smooth endings scattered in the dermis including the cutaneous accessory organs. Using NGF and p75 NGFr double staining, both immunoreactivities showed a weak staining in the epidermis and dermis in normal and uninvolved skin. In the involved dermis of AD, the intensity of p75 NGFr-IR nerves was stronger in areas where there were also increased numbers of NGF-IR cells. These findings indicate that NGF and its receptors may contribute to the neurohyperplasia of AD.

Olopatadine Ameliorates Rat Experimental Cutaneous Inflammation by Improving Skin Barrier Function

“…NGF stimulates the sprouting of nerve fibers [17,18] and the proliferation of sensory neurons, resulting in augmented itch sensation in skin diseases [19,20] . Toyoda et al [21] reported a significant increase in the plasma levels of NGF in patients with AD, and a significant correlation of the increase in NGF with the severity of the disease.…”

Immunofluorescent Triple-Staining Technique to Identify Sensory Nerve Endings in Human Thumb Ligaments

“…Dual-staining techniques have been previously described in detecting nerve fibers, but not mechanoreceptors, of the skin [Guinard et al, 2000;Johansson et al, 2002;Dou et al, 2006]. We expand these techniques to investigate the mechanoreceptor innervation of the CMC ligaments, which differ from skin in morphological and physiological characteristics.…”

Stress Hormone and Skin Disease

“…Recently, Oh et al reported that CRH and SP expression was not different between AD lesions and normal, whereas NGF and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression was significantly higher in the epidermis of affected skin of four AD patients, although the result was not quantitated (Oh et al, 2010). Increased expression of NGF in AD lesions was supported by Dou et al (Dou et al, 2006). NGF and NPY have been known to be related with anxiety.…”