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Dermal architecture and collagen type distribution

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Summary

The human dermis consists of two morphologically different layers. A loose meshwork of thin collagenous fibres is characteristic for the adventitial dermis with includes the papillary and the periadnexal dermis. Thick, coarse collagen bundles are the main feature of the reticular dermis. Two different collagens, type I and type III occur in the dermis as shown previously by biochemical analyses. Antibodies specific for type I collagen or type III collagen and their corresponding precursors were used in indirect immunofluorescence tests to localize the various collagens in frozen sections of normal adult skin. Whereas type I collagen is found in all dermal layers, the main part of type III collagen can be found within the adventitial dermis. Antibodies against the precursor of type I collagen stain only a bandlike region immediately beneath the epidermis. Antibodies against the precursor of type III collagen stain the same regions as antibodies against the helical part of type III collagen.

Zusammenfassung

An der menschlichen Dermis lassen sich morphologisch zwei verschiedene Schichten unterscheiden. Ein lockeres Maschenwerk aus dünnen kollagenen Fasern ist charakteristisch für die adventitielle Dermis, welche die papilläre und die periadnexielle Dermis einschließt. Dicke, plumpe Kollagenfaserbündel sind das Hauptmerkmal der retikulären Dermis. Biochemisch können die beiden Kollagentypen I und III in der menschlichen Dermis nachgewiesen werden. Typspezifische Antikörper gegen Typ I Kollagen, Typ III Kollagen und die entsprechenden Prokollagene erlauben in der indirekten Immunofluorescenztechnik an Gefrierschnitten von normaler Erwachsenenhaut eine Lokalisation der genetisch differenten Kollagene. Typ I Kollagen wird in allen Schichten gefunden, Typ III Kollagen ist mit seinem Hauptanteil auf die adventitielle Dermis beschränkt. Antikörper gegen Prokollagen Typ I färben nur eine schmale bandförmige Zone unmittelbar unterhalb der Epidermis. Antikörper gegen Prokollagen Typ III reagieren innerhalb derselben Bereiche der Dermis wie Antikörper gegen den helikalen Anteil von Typ III Kollagen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung Dermatologie der Universität Ulm, Prittwitzstraße 43, D-7900, Ulm/Donau, Republic of Germany

    Wilhelm N. Meigel & Lutz Weber

  2. Institute of Dental Research, Univ. of Alabama, 35294, Birmingham/Alabama, USA

    Steffen Gay

Authors
  1. Wilhelm N. Meigel
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  2. Steffen Gay
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  3. Lutz Weber
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Meigel, W.N., Gay, S. & Weber, L. Dermal architecture and collagen type distribution. Arch. Derm. Res. 259, 1–10 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00562732

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00562732

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