Nestin is an intermediate filament protein expressed in neuroepithelial
stem cells during development and it is later replaced by cell specific
neuronal or glial filaments. Nevertheless, nestin+ cells remain
within adult tissues and they can be regarded as potential neural stem
cell (NSC). Nestin+ cells have been detected in Schwann cells related
with sensory corpuscles of rodent and they have been demonstrated to be
NSC. We have investigated the existence of nestin+ in human cutaneous
cells Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles through the use of
immunohistochemistry techniques and in situ hybridization. S100
protein (also regarded as a marker for NSC) and vimentin (the
intermediate filament of mature Schwann cells in sensory corpuscles)
were also investigated. The results show that the adult human cutaneous
sensory Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles contains a small population
of Schwann-related cells (vimentin+) which on the basis of their basic
immunohistochemical characteristics (S100 protein+, nestin+) can be
potential NSCs. Cells sharing identical immunohistochemical profile
were also found in the close vicinity of Meissner corpuscles. Because
their localization they are easily accessible and may represent a
peripheral niche of NSC to be used for therapeutic goals.
Calavia M, Viña E, Menéndez-González M, López-Muñiz A, Alonso-Guervós M,
Cobo J, Otero J, Arias-Carrión O, Vega JA, García-Suárez O. Evidence of
Nestin-Positive cells in the human cutaneus Meissner and Pacinian
Corpuscles. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2012