Immunolocalization of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors in Normal Developing Human Skin

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 94; no. 6; pp. 742 - 748
• Main Authors: Nanney, Lillian B., Stoscheck, Christa M., Underwood, Robert A., Holbrook, Karen A., King, Lloyd E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.1990
• Subjects: Embryo, Mammalian - metabolism; Embryonic and Fetal Development; ErbB Receptors - metabolism; Fetus - metabolism; Humans; Immunologic Techniques; Keratins - metabolism; Nails - embryology; Skin - embryology; Skin - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12874601

The embryogenesis of normal human skin is a complex process involving multiple cell types and developmentally regulated growth factors. The immunohistochemical localization of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) was studied in human fetal skin because this receptor modulates all known actions of EGF and TGF-α. EGF-R are present in developing skin as early as the 42nd day of gestation. Immunoreactive EGF-R are present in keratinocytes, endothelial, and skeletal muscle cells. In contrast to normal adult human skin in which the EGF-R are primarily restricted to the basal and immediately suprabasal keratinocytes, the fetal epidermis showed a persistent expression of EGF-R in all cell layers. The absence of EGF-R on the outer, apical surface of periderm cells that are exposed to amniotic fluid was unexpected and may reflect down-regulation of EGF-R by EGF/TGF-α or related fetal growth factors present in amniotic fluid. The complex regulation of EGF-R in embryonic hair follicles and sebaceous glands indicates an active and perhaps regulatory role for EGF/TGF-α in the development and function of pilosebaceous glands as well as mammalian skin in general.