Are the Meibomian Glands 'Hair Follicles Without a Hair Shaft'?

September 2010 in “ Acta Ophthalmologica ”

Eva Knop, Nadja Knop

Meibomian glands hair follicles keratinization cytokeratins CK14 CK10 epithelial cornification

TLDR Meibomian glands are like hair follicles without a hair shaft.

The study investigated the structural similarities between Meibomian glands (MG) and hair follicles, focusing on their development and keratinization processes. Using conjunctival whole-mounts from 10 human donors, the research found that the MG's excretory duct is similar to hair follicles, with CK14 expressed in the basal cell layer and CK10 and involucrin in the excretory duct epithelium. However, full cornification markers were gradually lost along the duct, except for filaggrin, which persisted. The findings suggested that MGs are akin to "hair follicles without a hair shaft," where full epithelial cornification is blocked during development but may occur under pathological conditions.

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