Summary
The time-dependent reepithelialization of 55 human surgical skin wounds with a wound age between 8h and more than 2 months was investigated by the immunohistochemical localization of cytokeratins 5 and 13. A complete, rebuilt epidermal layer over the wound area was first detectable in a 5-day-old wound, while all wounds of more than 18 days duration contained a completely reepithelialized wound area. Between 5 and 18 days the basal layer of keratinocytes showed — in contrast to normal skin — only some cells positive for cytokeratin 5. In some, but not all lesions with a wound age of 13 days or more, a basal cell layer completely staining for cytokeratin 5 was demonstrable. This staining pattern was found in all skin wounds with a wound age of more than 23 days. The immunohistochemical detection of cytokeratin 13 which can be observed regularly in non-cornifying squamous epithelia provides no information for the time-estimation of human skin wounds, since no significant temporary expression of this polypeptide seems to occur during the healing of human skin wounds.
Zusammenfassung
An 55 chirurgisch versorgten menschlichen Hautwunden mit einer Überlebenszeit zwischen 8 Stunden und über 2 Monaten wurde die wundaltersabhängige Expression von Keratin 5 und 13 während der Reepithelialisierung untersucht. Eine vollständige Dekkung des ursprünglichen Epitheldefektes war erstmals in einer 5 Tage alten Hautwunde zu beobachten, wobei in der Basalzellschicht nur einzelne Cytokeratin 5-positive Zellen nachweisbar waren. Nach 13 Tagen Überlebenszeit war hier erstmals eine vollständige Anfärbbarkeit für Cytokeratin 5 feststellbar, regelhaft war dies nach mehr als ca. 23 Tagen Überlebenszeit der Fall. Nach einem Wundalter von ca. 18 Tagen war die Reepithelialisierung des ursprünglichen Defektes immer vervollständigt, auch wenn nicht alle Basalzellen Cytokeratin 5 exprimierten. Die Darstellung von Cytokeratin 13, ein für nicht-verhornendes Plattenepithel typischer Marker, liefert keine Informationen, die für eine Altersbestimmung menschlicher Hautwunden verwertbar wären, da offensichtlich eine relevante temporäre Expression während der Wundheilung in der menschlichen Haut nicht erfolgt.
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This study was supported by grants from the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” (grant Ei 209/3-1) and the Friedrich-Baur-Stiftung, University of Munich, Germany
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Betz, P., Nerlich, A., Tübel, J. et al. The time-dependent expression of keratins 5 and 13 during the reepithelialization of human skin wounds. Int J Leg Med 105, 229–232 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01642799
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01642799