Enlarged rete pegs with excessive accumulation of melanosomes leading to darker aging spots revealed by histomorphological measurements of internal structures of the epidermis.

OBJECTIVE: Various histological studies of facial pigmented spot sites such as solar lentigo have been reported, but few studies have used quantitative indices by histomorphometric analysis of the internal structure of pigmented spot sites using non-invasive methods. In the present study, to quantitatively elucidate morphological changes in the epidermis in male, darker-pigmented spots and female, light-pigmented spots, indices that characterize the internal structure of the epidermis in pigmented spot sites were measured using in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). METHODS: The darkness of pigmented spots on the cheeks of 69 women and 43 men was analysed using image analysis software. The L* value was calculated from RGB values obtained from facial images. The internal structures of pigmented spots on the cheeks of 13 subjects were observed by CLSM. Various parameters were measured using CLSM images from the surface of the stratum corneum to the bottom of the dermal papillae, including the thickness of the epidermis, melanosome content, and shape of the dermal papillae. RESULTS: Mean ΔL* values between pigmented spots and non-pigmented areas of male subjects were significantly increased in the 40s and 50s compared with those of female subjects. Conspicuous pigmented spots increased in the 40s in male subjects and the 50s in female subjects. In CLSM observations, significant increases in the thickness of the epidermis and melanosome content were confirmed in pigmented spots compared with surrounding non-pigmented areas. In particular, melanosome content in the male subject group with dark-coloured pigmented spots increased significantly to about eight times that of non-pigmented areas, and more than double that of the male subject group with light-coloured pigmented spots. CONCLUSION: From the measurements of quantitative parameters, morphological changes in the epidermis were clearly related to the surface colour tone of pigmented spots. Darker pigmented spot sites tended to show longer rete pegs in the epidermis. Accumulation of melanosomes in epidermal basal cells could be considered to increase with the degree of elongation of rete pegs at pigmented spot sites and, thus, induce darker pigmented spots.

OBJECTIF: Même si diverses études histologiques des taches pigmentées du visage, tels que les lentigos solaires, ont été publiées, il n'existe que peu d'études ayant utilisé des indices quantitatifs par analyse histomorphométrique de la structure interne des taches pigmentées via des méthodes non invasives. Dans la présente étude, afin d'expliquer quantitativement les changements morphologiques dans l'épiderme des taches pigmentées plus foncées chez l'homme et des taches pigmentées légères chez la femme, les indices qui caractérisent la structure interne de l'épiderme dans les taches pigmentées ont été mesurés par microscopie confocale à balayage laser (MCBL) in vivo. MÉTHODES: L'aspect foncé des taches pigmentées sur les joues de 69 femmes et 43 hommes a été analysé à l'aide d'un logiciel d'analyse d'images. La valeur L* a été calculée à partir des valeurs RVB obtenues des images du visage. Sur les joues de 13 sujets, les structures internes des taches pigmentées ont été observées par MCBL. Divers paramètres ont été mesurés à l'aide des images provenant de la MCBL, de la surface de la couche cornée jusqu'au bas des papilles dermiques, y compris l'épaisseur de l'épiderme, la teneur en mélanosome et la forme des papilles dermiques. RÉSULTATS: Les valeurs moyennes de ΔL* entre les zones de taches pigmentées et non pigmentées des hommes ont augmenté de manière significative chez les sujets dans la quarantaine et la cinquantaine par rapport aux valeurs des femmes. Chez les hommes, les taches pigmentées visibles ont augmenté dans la quarantaine, tandis qu'elles ont augmenté dans la cinquantaine chez les femmes. Dans les observations par MCBL, des augmentations significatives de l'épaisseur de l'épiderme et de la teneur en mélanosome ont été confirmées dans les zones de taches pigmentées par rapport aux zones de taches non pigmentées environnantes. Dans le groupe d'hommes présentant des taches pigmentées de couleur foncée en particulier, la teneur en mélanosomes a augmenté de façon significative jusqu'à environ 8 fois celle des zones non pigmentées, et jusqu'à plus du double de celle du groupe d'hommes présentant des taches pigmentées de couleur claire. CONCLUSION: D'après les mesures des paramètres quantitatifs, les changements morphologiques dans l'épiderme étaient clairement liés à la couleur à la surface des taches pigmentées. Les sites de taches pigmentées plus foncées montraient généralement des extensions des crêtes épidermiques dans l'épiderme. On pourrait envisager que l'accumulation de mélanosomes dans les cellules basales épidermiques augmente selon le degré d'allongement des crêtes épidermiques au niveau des sites de taches pigmentées, et entraîne ainsi des taches pigmentées plus foncées.

Dermatological and endocrine elements in Carney complex (Review).

Carney complex (CΝC) is a very rare, autosomal dominant, hereditary syndrome. Seventy percent of individuals with CNC have germline inactivating or deleting mutations of the CNC1 gene [currently known as protein kinase cAMP-dependent type I regulatory subunit α (PRKAR1A), located at the 17q22-24 chromosome level], with 30% of cases presenting with phosphodiesterase gene mutations. A member of the lentiginosis family, dermatological features include: skin pigmentation, cutaneous/mucosal myxomas, usually diagnosed by the age of 20 years (neonatal presentation is exceptional, requiring a meticulous differential diagnosis). Melanocyte-derived tumors such as epithelioid blue nevi (with different levels of pigmentation) and pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma (previously 'animal-type melanoma') are often found. Myxomas, mesenchymal tumors with mostly a benign pattern, may be recurrent. Primary cutaneous melanotic schwannoma are atypical, while non-skin sites are frequent. Corticotropinomas or somatotropinomas are part of the hereditary syndrome-related pituitary adenomas (representing 5% of all). Primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease involves bilateral cortical hyperplasia causing Cushing syndrome (CS) at an earlier age than non-CNC cases; osteoporotic fractures seem more prevalent compare to CS of other etiologies. Typically benign, a few cases of adrenocortical carcinoma have been identified. A total of 5% of familial non-medullary thyroid cancer is syndromic, also including CNC. CNC-related thyroid frame includes: hyperthyroidism, follicular hyperplasia/adenomas, follicular carcinoma (usually aggressive, bilateral or multifocal). Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors of the testes have malignant behavior in adults; in children these may induce precocious puberty. Two particular mammary tumors are found: myxoid fibroadenomas and breast myxomatosis. Cutaneous/subcutaneous lesions, pigmented or not, or any focal swelling of non-identified cause needs careful examination, since dermatological elements are among the earliest and most discernable by which to detect lesions in CNC, a systemic condition with multi-level endocrine involvement.

Comparative analysis of skin characteristics evaluation by a dermatologist and the Janus-III measurement system.

BACKGROUND: The Janus-III measurement system evaluates the overall skin characteristics such as skin pore, wrinkle, sebum, porphyrin, skin pigmentation, and skin color using high-resolution facial images. The values are measured from five different facial areas, namely, the forehead, nose, corner of/skin below the eyes, and cheeks. Owing to its convenience and diverse measuring characteristics, Janus-III has been widely used in skin research and the cosmetic industry in Korea. In our previous study, we revealed the consistency and reliability of the system with repeatedly measured values. Its measuring performance was investigated statistically, but to make it more reliable for academic skin research, additional verification by a professional dermatologist is needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we conducted comparative analysis of three skin characteristics (pigmented spot, skin color, and eye wrinkle) by a dermatologist and the Janus-III measurement system. We utilized 330 image data that were cropped from the whole facial images of 330 different participants to avoid correlation among the three measuring items. Pearson's correlation coefficient exhibited similar patterns between the system and the dermatologist's findings. RESULTS: The main finding of our study was that the measured value of skin characteristics by the Janus-III system showed clear correlation with the values evaluated by a dermatologist, especially in a pigmented spot. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it would be a plausible idea to consider the Janus-III system for specialized research of skin characteristics even with a small sample size.