Dermatology Pt 1 Flashcards
The skin arises from the juxtaposition of 2 major embryological elements. Name them and their origin.
Epidermis - Originates from the ectoderm
Dermis - Arises from the mesoderm that comes into contact with inner surface of epidermis
What is the mesoderm essential for?
Mesoderm is essential for inducing differentiation of epidermal structures (e.g. Hair follicles.
Outline the stages of skin development (include weeks as well).
- Epidermis forms by week 4-single basal layer of cuboidal cells - Superior mesoderm layer.
- Secondary layer of squamous, non-keratinising cuboidal cells (periderm) develops in week 5 - generates white, waxy protective substance - vernix caseosa.
- From week 11, basal layer of cuboidal cells (stratum germinativum) proliferates to form multi-layered intermediate zone → 4 more superficial strata: spinosum (spinous), granulosum (granular), lucidum (clear) and corneum (horny).
- Epidermal ridges protrude as troughs into developing dermis beneath neurovascular supply develops into dermal papillae.
- Weeks 9-13: Development of hair follicles in stratum germinativum, and appearance of lanugo hair.
List the layers of superficial strata of the epidermis from deep to superficial.
Stratum germinativum (basal layer) → Stratum spinosum → Stratum granulosum → Stratum lucidum (found on palms of hands and soles of feet) → Stratum corneum
Where is the stratum lucidum found?
Found on palms of hands and soles only.
What are melanocytes derived from?
Neural crest → Melanoblasts
(Migrate dorsally between week 6-8 to developing epidermis, dermis and hair follicles).
By what week have most melanoblasts reached their destination and differentiated into melanocytes?
Weeks 12-13
What are melanocytes responsible for?
Melanocytes are responsible for melanin secretion, through melanogenesis.
What do a subset of melanoblasts form and why?
Melanocyte stem cells in hair follicle bulge to replenish differentiated melanocytes.
What regulates quantity and quality of melanocytes produced and explain how it is controlled?
Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) → G protein-coupled receptor; Regulates quantity and quality of melanins produced by:
Agonists alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and ACTH mediate melanogenesis via MC1R. Binding of alpha-MSH to receptor ^ melanogenic cascade (tyrosine activity), and eumelanin production. ACTH can also up-regulate expression of MC1R gene.
alpha-MSH + ACTH → MC1R activation → melanogenic cascade → synthesis of eumelanin
Antagonist → Agouti signalling protein (ASP) → reverses effect of agonists and elicits production of pheomelanin.
What does ACTH up-regulate the effect of?
MC1R gene
Explain the regulation of melanocytes in accordance with UV-light.
Keratinocyte receives increased exposure to UV radiation, DNA damage induces mutation.
Increased expression of transcription factor MITF, and downstream melanogenic proteins (Pmel17, MART-I, TYR, TRPI and DCT) → Increases in melanin content.
Increased expression of PAR-2 in keratinocytes → increases uptake and distribution of melanosomes by keratinocytes.
What TF is increased due to UV-light and which downstream melanogenic proteins increase melanin content?
MITF
Pmel-17, MART-1, TYR, TRP1 and DCT
What does UV light cause keratinocytes to express?
PAR-2
What type of cells is the epidermis composed of?
Composed of keratinised, stratified squamous epithelium, avascular structure.
What is the dermis?
Layer of connective tissue and subcutaneous fat, deep to epidermis and separated by BM.
What is the epidermis composed of?
Keratinocytes
How long does cellular progression from basal layer to surface take?
~30 days (accelerated in skin diseases e.g. psoriasis)
What does the filamentous cytoskeleton of keratinocytes (in epidermis) contain?
(Thin) actin-containing microfilaments (7nm)
(Thick) tubulin-containing tubules (20-25nm)
Intermediate filaments (keratin) (7-10nm)
What are the roles of keratins?
Cellular signalling Stress response Structural properties Apoptosis Wound healing
What are desmosomes and what are they made of?
Major adhesion complex in epidermis. Anchor keratin intermediate filaments to cell membrane and bridge adjacent keratinocytes. Allow cells to withstand trauma.
Made up of desmoglein, desmocollin, plakoglobin, desmoplakin, keratin.
What other junctions are found in the epidermis and what are their functions?
Gap junctions - Clusters of intercellular channels (connexons), which directly form connections between cytoplasm of adjacent keratinocytes. Essential for cell synchronisation, differentiation, growth and metabolic coordination.
Adherens - Transmembrane structures which engage with the actin skeleton.
Tight junctions - Role in barrier integrity and cell polarity.
List the cells of the epidermis (not including keratinocytes).
Melanocytes - Dendritic, distribute melanin pigment (melanosomes) to keratinocytes.
Langerhans cells - Dendritic, APCs
Merkel Cells - Mechanosensory receptors
Mast cells