Abstract
Background: Cultures of epidermal cells are commonly used to study skin biology and differentiation. Recently a method to culture nail matrix cells has been established. Objective: We report the biologic characteristics of nail matrix cells in vitro compared with those of epidermal keratinocytes. Methods: Human nail matrix cells were isolated and cultured in defined medium. Electron-microscopic examination, growth rate, integrin expression and keratin synthesis pattern were evaluated. In addition, the cells were cultured in serum-containing medium. Results: Nail matrix cells appear to be larger than human epidermal keratinocytes and, at the ultrastructural level, they contain a higher euchromatin/heterochromatin ratio and a lower nucleus/cytoplasm ratio and have a higher growth rate. The synthesis of 'hard' keratins was detected at all calcium concentrations. Immunofluorescence analyses showed the expression of α2, α3, and α6 integrin subunits. When cultured in serum-containing medium, nail matrix cells produced an outgrowth of epithelium and a spontaneous migration phenomenon associated with a tendency to stratify in a semilunar area that resembles the architecture of the nail matrix. The pluristratified epithelium showed characteristic markers of nail differentiation. Conclusion: Culture of nail matrix cells may represent a useful model to study the biologic properties of nail structure, alterations in some nail diseases and the effects of drugs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 434-440 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1994 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
Cite this
Characterization of cultured nail matrix cells. / Picardo, M.; Tosti, Antonella; Marchese, C.; Zompetta, C.; Torrisi, M. R.; Faggioni, A.; Cameli, N.
In: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Vol. 30, No. 3, 01.01.1994, p. 434-440.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterization of cultured nail matrix cells
AU - Picardo, M.
AU - Tosti, Antonella
AU - Marchese, C.
AU - Zompetta, C.
AU - Torrisi, M. R.
AU - Faggioni, A.
AU - Cameli, N.
PY - 1994/1/1
Y1 - 1994/1/1
N2 - Background: Cultures of epidermal cells are commonly used to study skin biology and differentiation. Recently a method to culture nail matrix cells has been established. Objective: We report the biologic characteristics of nail matrix cells in vitro compared with those of epidermal keratinocytes. Methods: Human nail matrix cells were isolated and cultured in defined medium. Electron-microscopic examination, growth rate, integrin expression and keratin synthesis pattern were evaluated. In addition, the cells were cultured in serum-containing medium. Results: Nail matrix cells appear to be larger than human epidermal keratinocytes and, at the ultrastructural level, they contain a higher euchromatin/heterochromatin ratio and a lower nucleus/cytoplasm ratio and have a higher growth rate. The synthesis of 'hard' keratins was detected at all calcium concentrations. Immunofluorescence analyses showed the expression of α2, α3, and α6 integrin subunits. When cultured in serum-containing medium, nail matrix cells produced an outgrowth of epithelium and a spontaneous migration phenomenon associated with a tendency to stratify in a semilunar area that resembles the architecture of the nail matrix. The pluristratified epithelium showed characteristic markers of nail differentiation. Conclusion: Culture of nail matrix cells may represent a useful model to study the biologic properties of nail structure, alterations in some nail diseases and the effects of drugs.
AB - Background: Cultures of epidermal cells are commonly used to study skin biology and differentiation. Recently a method to culture nail matrix cells has been established. Objective: We report the biologic characteristics of nail matrix cells in vitro compared with those of epidermal keratinocytes. Methods: Human nail matrix cells were isolated and cultured in defined medium. Electron-microscopic examination, growth rate, integrin expression and keratin synthesis pattern were evaluated. In addition, the cells were cultured in serum-containing medium. Results: Nail matrix cells appear to be larger than human epidermal keratinocytes and, at the ultrastructural level, they contain a higher euchromatin/heterochromatin ratio and a lower nucleus/cytoplasm ratio and have a higher growth rate. The synthesis of 'hard' keratins was detected at all calcium concentrations. Immunofluorescence analyses showed the expression of α2, α3, and α6 integrin subunits. When cultured in serum-containing medium, nail matrix cells produced an outgrowth of epithelium and a spontaneous migration phenomenon associated with a tendency to stratify in a semilunar area that resembles the architecture of the nail matrix. The pluristratified epithelium showed characteristic markers of nail differentiation. Conclusion: Culture of nail matrix cells may represent a useful model to study the biologic properties of nail structure, alterations in some nail diseases and the effects of drugs.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 7509353
AN - SCOPUS:0028231716
VL - 30
SP - 434
EP - 440
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
SN - 0190-9622
IS - 3
ER -