Barrier Function, Epidermal Differentiation, and Human β-Defensin 2 Expression in Tinea Corporis Jens-Michael Jensen, Stephan Pfeiffer, Tatsuya Akaki, Jens-Michael Schröder, Michael Kleine, Claudia Neumann, Ehrhardt Proksch, Jochen Brasch Journal of Investigative Dermatology Volume 127, Issue 7, Pages 1720-1727 (July 2007) DOI: 10.1038/sj.jid.5700788 Copyright © 2007 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions
Figure 1 TEWL and hydration in healthy and lesional skin. TEWL significantly increased in superficial dermatophytosis, indicating skin permeability barrier impairment (+243.1%, P<0.0001, n=25). Stratum corneum hydration was reduced (24.3%, P<0.0001, n=22). Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2007 127, 1720-1727DOI: (10.1038/sj.jid.5700788) Copyright © 2007 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions
Figure 2 Changes in epidermal proliferation rate and differentiation. Using Ki-67 antibodies, an increase in proliferation was seen in infected epidermis (+695%, P<0.001, n=10). Epidermal differentiation showed changes in involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, anti-microbial hBD-2, and keratins. Bar=100μm. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2007 127, 1720-1727DOI: (10.1038/sj.jid.5700788) Copyright © 2007 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions
Figure 3 Colocalization of hyphae and hBD-2 expression. (a) Double staining of hBD-2 and PAS shows a strong expression of hBD-2 in tinea however, (b) with a slight reduction in areas underneath a high fungal hyphae load. Bar=50μm. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2007 127, 1720-1727DOI: (10.1038/sj.jid.5700788) Copyright © 2007 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions
Figure 4 Turbidimetric analysis. Turbidimetric assay revealed that natural (n-hBD-2) or recombinant (r-hBD-2) hBD-2 shows weak but statistically significant (*P< 0.05, n=4) antimicrobial activity against T. rubrum after 2 days (gray) or 3 days (black) of incubation. In contrast, fluconazole that served as control was highly active (*P< 0.05, n=4) compared with phosphate buffer. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2007 127, 1720-1727DOI: (10.1038/sj.jid.5700788) Copyright © 2007 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions
Figure 5 Electron microscopy study of the transition zone between stratum granulosum and stratum corneum. Ultrastructural analysis in tinea caused by T. rubrum identified hyphae in the corneocytes (a, long arrow) and in the extracellular space (a, short arrow). (b) Disturbed lamellar body extrusion at the transition from the stratum granulosum (SG) to the stratum corneum (SC) and lack of lipid bilayer formation are signs of the skin barrier disturbance. (c) The extracellular space in the stratum corneum shows clotted material. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2007 127, 1720-1727DOI: (10.1038/sj.jid.5700788) Copyright © 2007 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions