Biomedical Engineering Reference
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Figure 2.6 Human meprins in healthy and fibrotic skin. (A) In normal skin, meprin a
is predominantly expressed in keratinocytes of the Stratum basale and at
lower levels also in dermal fibroblast, whereas meprin b is exclusively found
in epidermal cells of the Stratum granulosum. 39 Meprin b might be
involved in terminal differentiation and desquamation by cleaving adhe-
sion molecules, such as desmoglein. Immunogold staining of meprin b
(black dots) in sections of human keratinocytes reveals close proximity to
desmosomes (white arrows), in particular to those that seem to be degraded
(red arrow). (B) In fibrotic skin (keloid), meprin a and b expression (green
fluorescence) is upregulated in dermal fibroblasts, those cells producing
fibrillar collagens. 48 Cell nuclei are stained in blue (DAPI). Both meprins
are capable of processing procollagen, thereby enhancing matrix assembly.
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