A serotonin-like immunoreactivity is present in human cutaneous melanocytes

[摘要] Immunohistochemistry was applied in the investigation of the possible existence of serotonin in human skin. It was found that epidermal melanocytes express a serotonin-like immunoreactivity, The immunoreactivity was associated with both the cytoplasm and the cellular membrane, though the latter was only found in certain cells. The serotonin anti-serum labeled the same cells as NKI-beteb, which is known as a reliable marker of melanocytes. Blocking experiments showed that both serotonin and NKI-beteb have different epitopes in the melanocytes. In in vitro studies, serotonin-like immunoreactivity appeared in approximate to 90% of cultured human melanocytes, and was found both in the cytoplasm and also in the nuclei. Thus, we believe the melanocytes to be the origin of serotonin (or a serotonin-like molecule) in the skin.

[发布日期] 1998-12-01

[关键词] dermatology;human skin;immunohistochemistry;melanocytes;serotonin