PGP 9.5 distribution patterns in biopsies from early lesions of atopic dermatitis.

Peripheral nerve fibres are often increased in lesional skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. We attempted to study nerve fibre profiles, using PGP 9.5 as neuronal marker, in early AD lesions in 10 patients, as compared to non-lesional skin in the same patients and skin from healthy controls. The number of PGP 9.5-positive nerve fibre profiles was not different in the biopsies taken from normal-looking AD skin and healthy controls. The total number of PGP 9.5-positive nerve fibre profiles in the whole skin sections was higher in both the epidermis and the dermis in the group of skin biopsies taken from early lesions of AD patients. Further, the number of epidermal PGP 9.5-positive dendritic cells was increased in AD skin. It seems reasonable that PGP 9.5-positive nerve fibres and PGP 9.5-positive dendritic cells have pathological roles in AD. The findings might serve as a basis for further studies in evaluating novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.