Biomaterial Database

Ultrastructural observations on 'foam cells' and the source of their lipid in verruciform xanthoma. 1991

S Balus, and A S Breathnach, and A J O'Grady

Istituto Dermatologico S. Gallicano, Rome, Italy.

Verruciform xanthomas occur on mucocutaneous surfaces and are characterized by hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and the occurrence of "foam cells" stuffed with lipid surrounding capillaries in the dermis between rete pegs. Ultrastructural examination of a lesion on the penis revealed the presence of melanocytes with many lipid droplets in the basal layer of the epidermis. We suggest that they are a major source of the lipid of the "foam cells." However, this study provides no information as to the nature or lineage of the "foam cells."

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008055	Lipids	A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Lipid
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010241	Parakeratosis	Persistence of the nuclei of the keratinocytes into the stratum corneum of the skin. This is a normal state only in the epithelium of true mucous membranes in the mouth and vagina. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Parakeratoses
D010413	Penis	The external reproductive organ of males. It is composed of a mass of erectile tissue enclosed in three cylindrical fibrous compartments. Two of the three compartments, the corpus cavernosa, are placed side-by-side along the upper part of the organ. The third compartment below, the corpus spongiosum, houses the urethra.	Glans Penis,Penis, Glans
D005487	Foam Cells	Lipid-laden macrophages originating from monocytes or from smooth muscle cells.	Cell, Foam,Cells, Foam,Foam Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012871	Skin Diseases	Diseases involving the DERMIS or EPIDERMIS.	Dermatoses,Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders,Dermatosis,Skin Disease
D014973	Xanthomatosis	A condition marked by the development of widespread xanthomas, yellow tumor-like structures filled with lipid deposits. Xanthomas can be found in a variety of tissues including the SKIN; TENDONS; joints of KNEES and ELBOWS. Xanthomatosis is associated with disturbance of LIPID METABOLISM and formation of FOAM CELLS.	Xanthoma,Xanthomas,Xanthomatoses