187 citations
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May 1988 in “Differentiation” This study found that trichocytic cytokeratins, typically found in hair, are also present in nails, filiform papillae of the tongue, and the epithelial reticulum of the thymus.
139 citations
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October 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study describes previously unknown immune characteristics of the normal human nail, highlighting its similarities to the hair follicle immune system and suggesting an immune privilege in the proximal nail matrix that both provides autoimmunity protection and presents infection susceptibility.
25 citations
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January 2003 in “Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery” This study indicates that nail-matrical fibroblasts can induce hard keratin expression in non-nail-matrical keratinocytes, suggesting potential for using non-nail-matrical epidermal grafts to treat nail injuries.
8 citations
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April 2017 in “American Journal of Dermatopathology” In this study, nail matrix pathology in a patient with Cronkhite–Canada Syndrome revealed matrix hypergranulosis, suggesting that an inflammatory process may play a key role in the condition's pathogenesis.
110 citations
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August 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology” 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.