Biomaterial Database

The skin basement membrane zone. 1987

J D Fine

Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham.

The basement membrane zone of skin is a complex, highly compartmentalized structure composed of many distinct antigens. As illustrated in epidermolysis bullosa, alteration in one or more of these antigens may result in abnormal integrity of the dermoepidermal junction, leading to increased mechanical fragility and blister formation. In addition, autoimmunization to basement membrane components, as in the case of bullous pemphigoid and EBA antigens, may result in the development of selected bullous diseases. To date, little is known about the functions and interactions of the antigens identified within human skin basement membrane. It is likely that future studies will provide not only these answers but also additional insight into other diseases associated with basement membrane involvement.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000941	Antigens	Substances that are recognized by the immune system and induce an immune reaction.	Antigen
D001485	Basement Membrane	A darkly stained mat-like EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX (ECM) that separates cell layers, such as EPITHELIUM from ENDOTHELIUM or a layer of CONNECTIVE TISSUE. The ECM layer that supports an overlying EPITHELIUM or ENDOTHELIUM is called basal lamina. Basement membrane (BM) can be formed by the fusion of either two adjacent basal laminae or a basal lamina with an adjacent reticular lamina of connective tissue. BM, composed mainly of TYPE IV COLLAGEN; glycoprotein LAMININ; and PROTEOGLYCAN, provides barriers as well as channels between interacting cell layers.	Basal Lamina,Basement Lamina,Lamina Densa,Lamina Lucida,Lamina Reticularis,Basement Membranes,Densas, Lamina,Lamina, Basal,Lamina, Basement,Lucida, Lamina,Membrane, Basement,Membranes, Basement,Reticularis, Lamina
D012871	Skin Diseases	Diseases involving the DERMIS or EPIDERMIS.	Dermatoses,Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders,Dermatosis,Skin Disease
D012872	Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous	Skin diseases characterized by local or general distributions of blisters. They are classified according to the site and mode of blister formation. Lesions can appear spontaneously or be precipitated by infection, trauma, or sunlight. Etiologies include immunologic and genetic factors. (From Scientific American Medicine, 1990)	Bullous Skin Diseases,Pustular Dermatosis, Subcorneal,Skin Diseases, Bullous,Skin Diseases, Vesicular,Sneddon-Wilkinson Disease,Subcorneal Pustular Dermatosis,Vesicular Skin Diseases,Vesiculobullous Skin Diseases,Bullous Dermatoses,Vesiculobullous Dermatoses,Bullous Skin Disease,Dermatoses, Bullous,Dermatoses, Subcorneal Pustular,Dermatoses, Vesiculobullous,Dermatosis, Subcorneal Pustular,Pustular Dermatoses, Subcorneal,Skin Disease, Bullous,Skin Disease, Vesicular,Skin Disease, Vesiculobullous,Sneddon Wilkinson Disease,Subcorneal Pustular Dermatoses,Vesicular Skin Disease,Vesiculobullous Skin Disease