Characterisation of superficial corneocyte properties over category I pressure ulcers: insights into topographical and maturation changes
Characterisation of superficial corneocyte properties over category I pressure ulcers: insights into topographical and maturation changes
Background: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are chronic wounds that are detrimental to the quality of life of patients. Despite advances in monitoring skin changes, the structure and function of skin cells over the site of pressure ulcers are not fully understood. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate local changes in the properties of superficial corneocytes in category 1 PU sites sampled from a cohort of hospitalised patients. Methods: Cells were collected from a PU-compromised site and an adjacent control area and their topographical, maturation and mechanical properties were analysed. Results: Corneocytes at the PU-compromised site were characterised by higher levels of immature cornified envelopes (p < 0.001) and greater amounts of desmoglein-1 (corneodesmosomal protein) (p < 0.001) compared to the adjacent control area. The cells at the control site presented the typical ridges-and-valleys topographical features of sacrum corneocytes. By contrast, the PU cells presented circular nano-objects at the cell surface, and, for some patients, the cell topography was deformed. CEs at the PU site were also smaller than at the control site. Although differences were not observed in the mechanical properties of the cells, those of the elderly patients were much softer compared with young subjects. Conclusion: This is the first study investigating the changes in corneocyte properties in category I pressure ulcers. Superficial cells at the PU sites showed altered topographical and maturation characteristics. Further studies are required to elucidate if these changes are a consequence of early loss of skin integrity or a result of mechanical and microclimate insults to the skin surface.
Atomic force microscopy, Corneocytes, Cornified, Desmoglein-1, Envelope, Pressure ulcers, Stratum corneum
63-70
Évora, Ana S.
98efe685-21e8-4aea-acc1-8c7f436e5032
Abiakam, Nkemjika
26818cc2-758e-4fa2-b1c3-8fef0ae82c4a
Zhang, Zhibing
56a69379-c6c8-4b29-a84f-5b13855c6249
Johnson, Simon A.
1db7bafa-9817-40fa-9759-7e24dd87302e
Adams, Michael J.
24139550-3f5a-4908-94f2-f377f3ee6d1e
Bader, Dan L.
06079726-5aa3-49cd-ad71-402ab4cd3255
Worsley, Peter R.
6d33aee3-ef43-468d-aef6-86d190de6756
November 2023
Évora, Ana S.
98efe685-21e8-4aea-acc1-8c7f436e5032
Abiakam, Nkemjika
26818cc2-758e-4fa2-b1c3-8fef0ae82c4a
Zhang, Zhibing
56a69379-c6c8-4b29-a84f-5b13855c6249
Johnson, Simon A.
1db7bafa-9817-40fa-9759-7e24dd87302e
Adams, Michael J.
24139550-3f5a-4908-94f2-f377f3ee6d1e
Bader, Dan L.
06079726-5aa3-49cd-ad71-402ab4cd3255
Worsley, Peter R.
6d33aee3-ef43-468d-aef6-86d190de6756
Évora, Ana S., Abiakam, Nkemjika, Zhang, Zhibing, Johnson, Simon A., Adams, Michael J., Bader, Dan L. and Worsley, Peter R.
(2023)
Characterisation of superficial corneocyte properties over category I pressure ulcers: insights into topographical and maturation changes.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 112 (2), .
(doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2023.08.008).
Abstract
Background: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are chronic wounds that are detrimental to the quality of life of patients. Despite advances in monitoring skin changes, the structure and function of skin cells over the site of pressure ulcers are not fully understood. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate local changes in the properties of superficial corneocytes in category 1 PU sites sampled from a cohort of hospitalised patients. Methods: Cells were collected from a PU-compromised site and an adjacent control area and their topographical, maturation and mechanical properties were analysed. Results: Corneocytes at the PU-compromised site were characterised by higher levels of immature cornified envelopes (p < 0.001) and greater amounts of desmoglein-1 (corneodesmosomal protein) (p < 0.001) compared to the adjacent control area. The cells at the control site presented the typical ridges-and-valleys topographical features of sacrum corneocytes. By contrast, the PU cells presented circular nano-objects at the cell surface, and, for some patients, the cell topography was deformed. CEs at the PU site were also smaller than at the control site. Although differences were not observed in the mechanical properties of the cells, those of the elderly patients were much softer compared with young subjects. Conclusion: This is the first study investigating the changes in corneocyte properties in category I pressure ulcers. Superficial cells at the PU sites showed altered topographical and maturation characteristics. Further studies are required to elucidate if these changes are a consequence of early loss of skin integrity or a result of mechanical and microclimate insults to the skin surface.
Text
PIIS0923181123001858
- Proof
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 31 August 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 1 September 2023
Published date: November 2023
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 811965 (Project STINTS - Skin Tissue Integrity under Shear).
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 811965 (Project STINTS - Skin Tissue Integrity under Shear).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
Keywords:
Atomic force microscopy, Corneocytes, Cornified, Desmoglein-1, Envelope, Pressure ulcers, Stratum corneum
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 482295
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/482295
ISSN: 0923-1811
PURE UUID: f3be8b98-a606-47b1-a3d8-e4f551e03a6d
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 26 Sep 2023 16:37
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:10
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Ana S. Évora
Author:
Nkemjika Abiakam
Author:
Zhibing Zhang
Author:
Simon A. Johnson
Author:
Michael J. Adams
Author:
Dan L. Bader
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
