Expression of Hair Keratins in the Adult Nail Unit: An Immunohistochemical Analysis of Onychogenesis in the Proximal Nail Fold, Matrix, and Nail Bed

August 2004 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”

Christophe Perrin, Lutz Langbein, J. Schweizer

hair keratins hHb5 K5 K17 prekeratogenous zone ventral matrix dorsal matrix eponychium apical matrix epithelial keratins K10

Studysummary In this study, researchers identified the ventral matrix as the primary source of nail plate formation, while the dorsal portion is generated by the apical matrix.

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The study analyzed the expression of hair keratins in the adult nail unit, revealing that the ventral matrix served as the primary source of the nail plate. The coexpression of hHb5 with K5 and K17 in specific cell layers led to the identification of a prekeratogenous zone in the ventral matrix. The dorsal matrix was identified as a transitional zone between the eponychium and the apical matrix, with the apical matrix contributing to the dorsal portion of the nail through a mix of hair and epithelial keratins, including K10.

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