Author/Editor		Starbek-Zorko, Mateja
Title		Pomen tesnih stikov pri nastanku kontaktne alergijske preobčutljivosti
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2006
Volume		str. 90
Language		slo
Abstract		Contact dermatitis of the skin surrounding a leg ulcer may develop as a complication of treatment with hydrocolloid dressings. Recent investigations have shown that in addition to the stratum corneum, tight junctions (TJ) in the stratum granulosum of the epidermis are involved in the skin barrier function. Humid environment provided by hydrocolloid dressing, presence of various enzymes and other factors, as well as by changes due to chronic venous insufficiency may lead to impairment of functional TJs, and subsequently to penetration of allergens through the epidermis. As a result an allergic reaction, most probably induced by hydrocolloid components, may occur. The objective of this paper was to investigate TJ protein expression during the treatment of leg ulcer with hydrocolloid dressings which may be involved in the development of contact allergy induced by hydrocolloid components. The issue has not yet been dealt with in the available literature, therefore our aim was to obtain data on the possible role of TJs in the development of contact allergic response in patients with chronic venous insufficiency and leg ulcer treated with hydrocolloid dressings. In the experimental part of our work, TJ proteins occludin, claudin 1, claudin 4 and ZO-1 were studied in shave biopsy specimens. The studied proteins were found to be most strongly expressed in the outer layers of the stratum granulosum, i.e. in TJs. Apart from minor differences in the expression of claudin 1 and ZO1, no notable differences were found between the inflamed and uninvolved skin of the leg as concerns the expression of the TJ proteins under study. Neither were there any differences established between unaffected skin of the leg and back, and skin specimens taken from the affected site on the leg previously covered with hydrocolloid dressing. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
Descriptors		DERMATITIS, CONTACT TIGHT JUNCTIONS LEG ULCER OCCLUSIVE DRESSINGS VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY BIOPSY EPIDERMIS MICROSCOPY, FLUORESCENCE MEMBRANE PROTEINS