Immunohistochemical Study of Human Eccrine Sweat Ducts with Anti-Keratin Antibodies

Abstract

It is known that human eccrine sweat ducts are composed of luminal cells and peripheral cells. In this study, the immunohistochemical staining properties of human eccrine sweat ducts were investigated using seven different anti-keratin antibodies by light microscopy. Anti-keratin antibody MA904, which reacts with 68-kDa keratin peptide specifically stained an intermediate cell layer between the luminal cell layer and the peripheral cell layer in the ducts. Anti-keratin antibody CK8,60 stained both the luminal cell layer and the intermediate cell layer. Anti-keratin antibody MA903 stained all of the layers. Anti-keratin antibodies CK4.26, PKK1, and MAK-6 weakly to faintly stained the luminal cells. Anti-keratin antibody PKK3 stained no cells in the ducts. These results suggest that each cell layer has its own characteristic staining pattern with anti-keratin antibodies. Moreover, the presence of an intermediate cell layer was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy using anti-keratin antibody MA904.