Desmosomes and disease: an update

M. Chidgey

Division of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Clinical Research Block, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK

Offprint requests to: Martyn Chidgey, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Clinical Research Block, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK. Fax: 44 121 627 2359. e-mail: m.a.chidgey@bham.ac.uk

 

Summary. Desmosomes play a critical role in the maintenance of normal tissue architecture. Skin blistering can occur when desmosomal adhesion is compromised by antibodies in autoimmune diseases such as pemphigus. Inherited mutations in genes encoding desmosomal constituents can adversely affect the skin, and result in heart abnormalities. Desmosomes may have a tumour suppressor function: expression of desmosomal components is reduced in some human cancers, and desmosomal cadherins have the capacity to suppress the invasiveness of cells in culture. Transgenic animal research has provided important insights into the role of these junctions in normal epithelial morphogenesis and disease. Histol. Histopathol. 17, 1179-1192 (2002)

Key words: Desmosome, Cadherin, Armadillo, Plakin, Disease

DOI: 10.14670/HH-17.1179