Tenascin expression in human dermis is related to epidermal proliferation

Abstract

The extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin is sparsely distributed in normal human dermis. The authors have shown that in a number of skin diseases (psoriasis, skin tumors), tenascin expression is strongly increased. In this immunohistochemical study, using polyclonal and monoclonal antisera, we have tested the hypothesis that tenascin expression in vivo is linked to epidermal proliferation. Using the sellotape stripping model in normal human skin, which causes a rapid recruitment of keratinocytes into the cell cycle, induction of tenascin expression was found in the upper dermis within 24 hours after stripping. In contrast, in normoproliferative monogenic disorders of keratinization (X-..