ALTERED THROMBOMODULIN STAINING IN BLISTERING DERMATOSES

The immunocytochemical distribution of thrombomodulin (TM) was examine d in sections of skin from patients with blistering dermatoses occurri ng in the presence and absence of acantholysis. Skin sections were sta ined using polyclonal and monoclonal anti-human TM antibodies and were correlated with the staining pattern that resulted when using the mon oclonal antibody 32-2B, which recognises the chief desmosomal adhesion molecule desmoglein I (DG I), Our study demonstrates a loss of TM sta ining in acantholytic dermatoses, occurring only in the region of actu al disruption of the intercellular bridging between keratinocytes in t he stratum spinosum, The thrombomodulin antigen expression paralleled the DG I expression. The strong correlation between the DG I and TM im munostaining pattern in both normal skin and acantholytic dermatoses s upports the concept that TM has a role in mediating adhesion processes between keratinocytes.