Effect of chronic friction in vivo on histochemical reactions in the human epidermis

The cryptic folded epidermis of skin tags [fibroma molle] was chosen as an in vivo model for investigating the effect of chronic epidermal friction. Lectin histochemistry was combined with immunohistological detection of calmodulin by a polyclonal antiserum. The latter has been shown to be a marker of normal basal keratinocytes. We observed a decrease in wheat germ agglutinin [WGA] binding to subcorneal cells, which were found in cryptic foldings with an orthohyperkeratotic horny layer. Both altered WGA binding and hyperkeratosis probably appear as adaptive mechanisms in human epidermis subjected to chronic friction