Comparative Anatomy of Mouse and Human Nail Units

The study compared the anatomy and keratin expression patterns of mouse and human nail units, using the C57BL/6J mouse strain, to better understand nail disorders. It found that despite some differences, such as the more extended apical matrix in mice and the lack of keratin expression in the mouse nail bed, the similarities supported using mice as models for human nail disorders. The research highlighted the potential of mouse models for studying developmental, inherited, and acquired nail anomalies, like onychomycosis. The study emphasized the importance of keratin expression patterns, noting differences in KRT17 and KRT14 expression between species.