Ann Dermatol.  2014 Aug;26(4):469-473. 10.5021/ad.2014.26.4.469.

Possible Existence of Melanocytes or Melanoblasts in Human Sebaceous Glands

• Jang YH
• Kim SL
• Lee JS
• Kwon KY
• Lee SJ
• Kim DW
• Lee WJ

• KMID: 2265587
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2014.26.4.469

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Melanocytes are present in both basal epidermis and hair follicles. Melanocyte stem cells have been found in hair follicle bulge. During embryogenesis, the outer cells of the bulge differentiate into the sebaceous gland (SG) and proliferate.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and determine the distribution and morphological characteristics of melanocytes in human SGs.
METHODS
A total of 171 biopsy specimens of face and scalp were studied. Of these specimens, 103 samples contained SGs. We conducted a retrospective review of slides stained with H&E, F-M, anti-S100, anti-c-kit, anti-HMB-45, anti-CD1a, anti-MITF, and anti-tyrosinase. The presence and distribution of melanocytes in human SGs was also evaluated by electron microscopy. In addition, melanocytes were isolated from SGs for primary culture.
RESULTS
S-100-positive cells were observed mainly at the periphery of SGs in 34 of 54 specimens. We did not find F-M-positive and HMB-45-positive cells in SGs. CD1a-positve cells were identified in two specimens. We also found c-kit-, MITF-, and tyrosinase-positive cells in SGs. Electron micrograph showed the presence of melanocytes in the suprabasal portion of SGs. These melanocytes showed fewer melanin-containing granules than the melanocytes of basal epidermis. However, the individually distributed melanosomes in suprabasal melanocytes were larger than those in epidermal melanocytes. Primary culture of melanocytes derived from SGs showed morphologically homogeneous, slender cell bodies with few dendrites.
CONCLUSION
Our study confirms the presence of non-melanogenic melanocytes and Langerhans cells in human SGs. In addition, the characteristics of the melanocytes in SGs were found to be different from those of the epidermal melanocytes.

Keyword

Langerhans cells; Melanocytes; Sebaceous glands

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Dendrites
Embryonic Development
Epidermis
Female
Hair Follicle
Humans
Langerhans Cells
Melanocytes*
Melanosomes
Microscopy, Electron
Pregnancy
Retrospective Studies
Scalp
Sebaceous Glands*
Stem Cells

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 We retrospectively reviewed 171 H&E slides taken from the scalp and facial skin. Among them, 103 slides containing sebaceous gland (SG) tissues were finally included in the study. Of these, 54 were stained with the antiserum to S-100, 11 with Fontana-Masson (F-M) stain, 7 with antiserum to human melanoma black-45 (HMB-45), 4 with antiserum to CD1a, 7 with antiserum to c-kit, 10 with antiserum to microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and 10 with antiserum to tyrosinase. Out of the 54 specimens of human SGs, 34 slides showed S-100-positive cells. All specimens showed negative staining for F-M (11 specimens) and HMB-45 (7 specimens). In addition, 2 specimens were found to be CD1a-positive, and 4 were c-kit-positive. Out of 10 specimens of human SGs, 2 showed MITF-positive cells, and 2 others showed positive staining for tyrosinase.

• 

  Fig. 2 (A) S-100-positive cells are mainly located in the periphery of the sebaceous glands (black arrow; ×200). (B) CD1a-positive Langerhans cells are seen in the sebaceous glands (black arrow; ×200). (C) C-kit-positive melanocytes are seen in the sebaceous glands (black arrows; ×40). (D) Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-positive melanocytes are seen in the sebaceous glands (black arrows; ×200). (E) Tyrosinase-positive melanocytes are also shown in the sebaceous glands (black arrow; ×200).

• 

  Fig. 3 The specimen is from the facial skin of a Korean male (A, B: ×5,000. C, D: ×200). Electron micrograph shows a SM (A) in the suprabasal portion of the sebaceous gland (SG). The SM shows fewer melanin-containing granules (black arrows) compared to the EM (B). Evenly distributed melanosomes of SM (black arrows) are larger than those of EMs (red arrows). (C, D) Melanocytes cultured from SGs (black arrows) are seen in an early stage. The SMs have morphologically homogeneous, slender cell bodies with few-dendrites in the later stage. SC: sebocyte, SM: sebaceous melanocyte, N: nucleus, BL: basal lamina, D: dermis, KC: keratinocyte, EM: epidermal melanocyte.

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