Summary
The MRL-lpr/lpr (MRL/1) mouse, a new animal model for the study of human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), shows characteristic skin manifestations in addition to several systemic autoimmune phenomena. The ultrastructural changes observed in the dermoepidermal junction (DEJ) and in the uppermost dermis were: (1) infolding of the DEJ; (2) deformities of the basal lamina, — partial disappearance, thickening, hanging down, duplication, and separation from the basal cell membrane; (3) basal laminalike dense material in the uppermost dermis and increased anchoring fibrils; (4) particles composed of circulated half-desmosomes between the basal cells and the basal lamina, and in the uppermost dermis with or without an enclosing basal lamina; (5) cell processes of the basal cells; and (6) invagination of the basal lamina in the basal cells. Most of these findings were similar to the ultrastructural changes observed in the skin lesions of human SLE. The skin eruptions of MRL/l mice might be a new aid in the investigation of the pathogenesis of the skin lesions of human SLE.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cox AJ (1969) The dermal-epidermal junction in psoriasis. J Invest Dermatol 53:428–435
Frithiof L (1972) Ultrastructure of the basement membrane in normal and hyperplastic human oral epithelium compared with that in preinvasive and invasive carcinoma. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand [Suppl] 200:1–63
Frithiof L (1972) Electron microscopic observations on structures related to the epithelial basement membrane in squamous cell carcinoma. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 73:323–334
Furukawa F, Hamashima Y (1982) Lupus band test in New Zealand mice and MRL mice. J Dermatol (Tokyo) 9:467–471
Furukawa F, Hamashima Y (1982) Immunoglobulin deposition at dermal epidermal junction in SLE-prone mice. Proc Jpn Soc Invest Dermatol 9:41–42
Furukawa F, Hamashima Y, Horiguchi Y, Imamura S (1983) Skin lesions in MRL/l mice. Jpn J Dermatol 93:154 (abstract in Japanese)
Furukawa F, Tanaka H, Sekita K, Nakamura T, Horiguchi Y, Hamashima Y (1983) Dermatopathological studies on skin lesions of MRL mice. Arch Dermatol Res (in press)
Hashimoto K, Chandler RW (1972) Paramyxovirus-like inclusions in systemic lupus erythematosus. Electron microscopic and cell culture studies. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 52:263–277
Haustein UF (1972) Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen über die Epidermis-Korium-Grenze bei Lupus erythematodes. Dermatologica 145:256–268
Haustein UF (1973) Membranlose fibrilläre und amophogranulare Körper bei Lupus erythematodes. (Eine elektronenmikroskopische Studie). Dermatol Monatsschr 159:185–198
Kobayashi T (1970) Dermo-epidermal junction in basal cell carcinoma. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 50:401–411
Kobayashi T, Asboe-Hansen G (1972) Virus particles in lupus erythematosus. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 52:425–437
Kobayashi T, Asboe-Hansen G (1973) Ultrastructure of systemic lupus erythematosus skin. Dermo-epidermal junction. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 53:417–424
Kobayashi T, Asboe-Hansen G (1974) Ultrastructure of systemic lupus erythematosus. Dermal connective tissue. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 54:23–28
Murphy ED, Roth JB (1978) Autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation: induction by mutant gene lpr, and acceleration by a male associated factor in strain BXSB mice. In: Rose NR, Bigazzi PE, Warner NL (eds) Genetic control of autoimmune disease. Elsevier, North Holland, p 207
Odland G, Ross R (1968) Human wound repair. I. Epidermal regeneration. J Cell Biol 39:135–151
Ogawa K (1981) Ultrastructure of cutaneous lesions in lupus erythematosus: A comparison between the cutaneous and systemic types. 1. The basal lamina at the dermal-epidermal junction. J Dermatol (Tokyo) 8:175–186
Ogawa K, Iizima M, Shishiba T, Ishibashi Y (1980) Ultrastructure of cutaneous lesions in lupus erythematosus. Comparison between cutaneous type and systemic type. 2. Fibrillar or hyaline bodies. Jpn J Dermatol 90:921–928 (in Japanese)
Ohashi M, Kato Y (1972) Changes of basal lamina and virus-like particles in lupus erythematosus. Using electron microscopy and peroxidase labeled antibody method. Nishinihon Hifu 34:382–395 (in Japanese)
Schmitt D, Thivolet J, Perrot H (1971) Apport de la microscopie électronique a l'edute des lesions cutanées du lupus érythematoeux. Lyon Medical 226:173–182
Shklar G, Flynn E, Szabo G (1978) Basement membrane alteration in oral lichen planus. J Invest Dermatol 70:45–50
Spurr AR (1969) A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J Ultrastruct Res 26:31–43
Tuffanelli DL, Kay D, Fukuyama K (1969) Dermal-epidermal junction in lupus erythematosus. Arch Dermatol 99:652–662
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This is the third part of a series of papers entitled ‘pathogénesis of lupus dermatoses in autoimmune mice’.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Horiguchi, Y., Furukawa, F., Hamashima, Y. et al. Ultrastructural observations of skin lesions in MRL mice —dermoepidermal junction. Arch Dermatol Res 276, 229–234 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00414233
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00414233