Immunohistochemical Study on the Expression of Desmocollin 1 in Skin Development

The study investigated the expression pattern of Desmocollin 1 (Dsc 1) in the skin and oral mucosa during fetal development using samples from 33 fetuses aged 10 to 37 weeks. Dsc 1 was found to be expressed in the suprabasal layer of the epidermis from the 10th week of gestation, with increased expression in the granular layers of the sole and scalp as development progressed. It was strongly expressed in the superficial layer of the infundibulum and inner root sheath of hair follicles but not in sebaceous cells or other hair components. The eccrine duct epithelium showed weak expression, and Dsc 1 was absent in the oral mucosa, except for strong expression in the oro-cutaneous portion. The findings suggested that Dsc 1 played a role in maintaining epithelial integrity as part of desmosomes during fetal skin development.