Biomaterial Database

VLA protein expression on epidermal cells (keratinocytes, Langerhans cells, melanocytes): a light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical study. 1991

G Zambruno, and V Manca, and M L Santantonio, and D Soligo, and A Giannetti

Department of Dermatology, University of Modena, Italy.

The very late antigens, or VLA proteins, are a family of cell surface heterodimers (alpha 1-b beta 1) that mediate cell adhesion to specific components of the extracellular matrix (collagens, fibronectin, laminin). In normal human epidermis, the common VLA beta 1 subunit is expressed on basal keratinocytes (BK). Langerhans cells (LC) and melanocytes. By means of light and electron microscopic immunostaining procedures, we have investigated the distribution of VLA alpha 1,2,3,4,6 subunits on normal human adult and foetal epidermal cells. alpha 1 antigen expression was not observed on any epidermal cell type. Both during foetal development and in adult epidermis, alpha 2 and alpha 3 were strongly expressed on the cell membrane BK, while alpha 6 was mainly expressed at their dermal pole. These different patterns of distribution suggest that the alpha 6 subunit may mediate BK anchorage to the basement membrane zone, while the alpha 2 and alpha 3 subunits may also be involved in intracellular adhesion. Moreover, with immunoelectron microscopy, LC were seen to be weakly alpha 5 and alpha 6 positive and melanocytes were alpha 3 and alpha 6 positive. Thus, VLA proteins are expressed by epidermal cells in a cell-type-specific pattern that could be related to particular functional roles of these proteins.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007801	Langerhans Cells	Recirculating, dendritic, antigen-presenting cells containing characteristic racket-shaped granules (Birbeck granules). They are found principally in the stratum spinosum of the EPIDERMIS and are rich in Class II MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX molecules. Langerhans cells were the first dendritic cell to be described and have been a model of study for other dendritic cells (DCs), especially other migrating DCs such as dermal DCs and INTERSTITIAL DENDRITIC CELLS.	Langerhans Cell,Dendritic Cells, Dermal,Dendritic Cells, Epidermal,Dendritic Cells, Skin,Dermal Dendritic Cells,Epidermal Dendritic Cells,Skin Dendritic Cells,Cell, Dermal Dendritic,Cell, Epidermal Dendritic,Cell, Langerhans,Cell, Skin Dendritic,Cells, Dermal Dendritic,Cells, Epidermal Dendritic,Cells, Langerhans,Cells, Skin Dendritic,Dendritic Cell, Dermal,Dendritic Cell, Epidermal,Dendritic Cell, Skin,Dermal Dendritic Cell,Epidermal Dendritic Cell,Skin Dendritic Cell
D008544	Melanocytes	Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.	Melanocyte
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D004817	Epidermis	The external, nonvascular layer of the skin. It is made up, from within outward, of five layers of EPITHELIUM: (1) basal layer (stratum basale epidermidis); (2) spinous layer (stratum spinosum epidermidis); (3) granular layer (stratum granulosum epidermidis); (4) clear layer (stratum lucidum epidermidis); and (5) horny layer (stratum corneum epidermidis).
D005455	Fluorescent Antibody Technique	Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, DIRECT) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy.	Antinuclear Antibody Test, Fluorescent,Coon's Technique,Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Test,Fluorescent Protein Tracing,Immunofluorescence Technique,Coon's Technic,Fluorescent Antibody Technic,Immunofluorescence,Immunofluorescence Technic,Antibody Technic, Fluorescent,Antibody Technics, Fluorescent,Antibody Technique, Fluorescent,Antibody Techniques, Fluorescent,Coon Technic,Coon Technique,Coons Technic,Coons Technique,Fluorescent Antibody Technics,Fluorescent Antibody Techniques,Fluorescent Protein Tracings,Immunofluorescence Technics,Immunofluorescence Techniques,Protein Tracing, Fluorescent,Protein Tracings, Fluorescent,Technic, Coon's,Technic, Fluorescent Antibody,Technic, Immunofluorescence,Technics, Fluorescent Antibody,Technics, Immunofluorescence,Technique, Coon's,Technique, Fluorescent Antibody,Technique, Immunofluorescence,Techniques, Fluorescent Antibody,Techniques, Immunofluorescence,Tracing, Fluorescent Protein,Tracings, Fluorescent Protein
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D015603	Keratinocytes	Epidermal cells which synthesize keratin and undergo characteristic changes as they move upward from the basal layers of the epidermis to the cornified (horny) layer of the skin. Successive stages of differentiation of the keratinocytes forming the epidermal layers are basal cell, spinous or prickle cell, and the granular cell.	Keratinocyte
D016029	Receptors, Very Late Antigen	Members of the integrin family appearing late after T-cell activation. They are a family of proteins initially identified at the surface of stimulated T-cells, but now identified on a variety of cell types. At least six VLA antigens have been identified as heterodimeric adhesion receptors consisting of a single common beta-subunit and different alpha-subunits.	Receptors, VLA,VLA Protein Complex,Receptor, Very Late Antigen,Receptors, Very Late Activation Antigen,VLA Activation Antigens,VLA Differentiation Antigens,VLA Receptors,Very Late Activation Antigen Receptors,Very Late Antigen Receptors,Activation Antigens, VLA,Antigens, VLA Activation,Antigens, VLA Differentiation,Differentiation Antigens, VLA,Protein Complex, VLA