A Comparative Study of Distribution and Expression of neuropeptide Immunoreactive Nerve Fibers in Normal Skins and the Skins from the patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia.
- Author:
Hwa Jung LEE
1
;
Kyung Jeh SUNG
;
Jai Kyoung KOH
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Comparative Study ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Neuropeptide;
Postherpetic neuralgia;
Immunofluorescence
- MeSH:
Blood Vessels;
Calcitonin;
Dermatitis, Atopic;
Epidermis;
Fluorescent Antibody Technique;
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect;
Humans;
Nerve Fibers*;
Neuralgia, Postherpetic*;
Neuropeptide Y;
Neuropeptides*;
Neurotransmitter Agents;
Peptides;
Pruritus;
Renal Dialysis;
Skin*;
Somatostatin;
Substance P;
Sweat Glands;
Urticaria
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
1996;34(2):273-278
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Neuropeptides are biologically active polypeptides in sensory afferent nerve fibers and autonomic afferent nerve fibers, where they coexist with neurotransmitters. In additian to the neurotransmitter or neuroendocrine role, neuropeptides play a role in mitogenic action in tissues and modulation in immure response. The cutaneous diseases which may be related to neuropeptides are psoiriasis, atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, postherpetic neuralgia, hemodialysis related pruritus, and scleorderma. OBJECTIVES: We carried out two kinds of experiments to study the role of neuropeptides in postherpetic neuralgia. Firstly, we investigated the occurrence and distribution of substance P (SP), calcitonin gene relating peptide(CGRP), vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP), neuropeptide Y (NY), neurokinin A(NA), and somatostatin in normal human skin, provided the principal information needed to identify the neuropeptide role in several cutaneous diseases. Secondly, we compared the distribution of neuropeptides in normal skin and those in the skin of patients with postherpetic neuralgia. METHODS: We used the indirect immunofluorescence staining method to achieve two objectives mentioned above. RESULTS: In almost all regions of normal human skin and the skin of patients with postherpetic neuralgia, significant amounts of SP, CGRP, VIP, NY, NA, and somatostatin immunoreactive nerve fibers(IRNF) were found. CGRP, VIP, and NY IRNF were more frequently observed around sweat glands and blood vessels. Only VIP IRNF were found occasionally in the epidermis. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between the neuropeptides IRNF of the skin from patients with postherpetic neuralgia and those of the normal skin except the absence of VIP IRNF in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.
