Immunohistochemical Expression of the Alpha- and Gamma-Catenin in Fetal Skin Development

The study investigated the distribution of ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-catenins in fetal skin development using skin samples from 21 human fetuses aged 13 to 37 weeks. It found that both catenins were strongly expressed in basal cells of the epidermis and germ cells of skin adnexa at 13 weeks, with expression patterns evolving to an adult-like pattern by 23 weeks. Although ${\gamma}$-catenin appeared slightly later, both catenins showed similar distribution patterns, being present in both epithelial and mesenchymal cells. The findings suggested that ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-catenins are functionally related and play a significant role in the development of the epidermis and skin adnexae during the fetal stage.