K31 as a Novel Marker for Clear Secretory Cells in Human Eccrine Sweat Glands

The study identified K31 as a novel marker for clear secretory cells in human eccrine sweat glands. Previously known as a hair keratin, K31 was found to be expressed in eccrine sweat gland cells in a pattern similar to clear secretory cells. The research involved staining human skin samples to determine the localization of K31, using markers for dark and clear secretory cells. K31-positive cells were shown to co-express K7 and CAII, but not other markers like S100P or GCDFP15. The findings concluded that K31 could distinguish between clear and dark secretory cells, as well as between secretory coils and ducts in eccrine sweat glands.