fibrin and Skin-Diseases

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anabolic Agents; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Endothelium; Ethylestrenol; Female; Fibrin; Fibrinolysin; Fibrinolysis; Follow-Up Studies; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Inflammation; Leg Ulcer; Male; Middle Aged; Phenformin; Purpura; Rats; Skin Diseases; Thrombophlebitis; Vascular Diseases; Wound Healing

The effects of phenformin and ethyloestrenol and phenformin and stanozolol on the clinical state, plasma fibrinolytic activity, and fibrinogen-fibrin-related antigen (F.R.-antigen) were compared with placebo in 13 patients with cutaneous vasculitis. Eight patients showed considerable clinical improvement when taking phenformin and an anabolic steroid; an impaired fibrinolytic activity before treatment favoured clinical improvement.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens; Blood Coagulation Tests; Clinical Trials as Topic; Ethylestrenol; Female; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Fibrinolysis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Phenformin; Skin Diseases; Stanozolol; Vascular Diseases

Skin that is exposed to radiation has an impaired ability to heal wounds. This is especially true for whole-body irradiation, where even moderate nonlethal doses can result in wound-healing deficits. Our previous attempts to administer dermal cells locally to wounds to correct radiation-induced deficits were hampered by poor cell retention. Here we improve the outcome by using biodegradable fibrin microbeads (FMBs) to isolate a population of mesenchymal marrow-derived stromal cells (MSCs) from murine bone marrow by their specific binding to the fibrin matrix, culture them to high density in vitro, and deliver them as MSCs on FMBs at the wound site. MSCs are retained locally, proliferate in site, and assist wounds in gaining tensile strength in whole-body irradiated mice with or without additional skin-only exposure. MSC-FMBs were effective in two different mouse strains but were ineffective across a major histocompatability barrier. Remarkably, irradiated mice whose wounds were treated with MSC-FMBs showed enhanced hair regrowth, suggesting indirect effect on the correction of radiation-induced follicular damage. Further studies showed that additional wound-healing benefit could be gained by administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and AMD3100. Collagen strips coated with haptides and MSCs were also highly effective in correcting radiation-induced wound-healing deficits.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Dermis; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fibrin; Germ-Free Life; Male; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microspheres; Radiation Injuries, Experimental; Skin Diseases; Tensile Strength; Whole-Body Irradiation; Wound Healing

The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) has emerged as a potential regulator of cell adhesion, cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and cell survival in multiple physiologic and pathologic contexts. The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) was the first identified ligand for uPAR, but elucidation of the specific functions of the uPA-uPAR interaction in vivo has been difficult because uPA has important physiologic functions that are independent of binding to uPAR and because uPAR engages multiple ligands. Here, we developed a new mouse strain (Plau(GFDhu/GFDhu)) in which the interaction between endogenous uPA and uPAR is selectively abrogated, whereas other functions of both the protease and its receptor are retained. Specifically, we introduced 4 amino acid substitutions into the growth factor domain (GFD) of uPA that abrogate uPAR binding while preserving the overall structure of the domain. Analysis of Plau(GFDhu/GFDhu) mice revealed an unanticipated role of the uPA-uPAR interaction in suppressing inflammation secondary to fibrin deposition. In contrast, leukocyte recruitment and tissue regeneration were unaffected by the loss of uPA binding to uPAR. This study identifies a principal in vivo role of the uPA-uPAR interaction in cell-associated fibrinolysis critical for suppression of fibrin accumulation and fibrin-associated inflammation and provides a valuable model for further exploration of this multifunctional receptor.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Cell Proliferation; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fibrin; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Inflammation; Liver; Lung Injury; Macrophages, Peritoneal; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Pneumonia; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Skin Diseases; Survival Rate; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; Wound Healing

We encountered a distinct arteriolar histopathologic finding of lymphocytic vasculitis associated with a hyalinized fibrin ring in vessel lumina. Identical histologic findings have previously been described as macular arteritis.. We describe 5 women (mean age, 25 years; age range, 20-34 years) with persistent, slowly progressive, patchy and reticular hyperpigmentation associated with livedo racemosa affecting predominantly the lower limbs. In the biopsy samples, infiltration of muscular vessel wall by inflammatory cells, affecting small arteries of the dermosubcutaneous junction or superficial subcutis, was present. Of the infiltrate, 90% or more consisted of mononuclear cells, mainly lymphocytes with an admixture of histiocytes. Neutrophils and eosinophils were absent or scant. Inflammation was confined to the vicinity of the vessel and the immediate surrounding panniculus. A concentric fibrin ring involving the entire periphery of the lumina of affected vessels was present in all the patients. Laboratory investigation results revealed that 4 patients had antiphospholipid antibodies in their serum. One of these patients had a heterozygous mutation of the factor V Leiden gene. Conclusion We term this arteritis lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis to reflect the histologic features that combine lymphocytic vascular inflammation with changes representing a thrombophilic endovasculitis.

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; Arteritis; Factor V; Female; Fibrin; Heterozygote; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leg; Lymphocytes; Mutation; Pigmentation Disorders; Skin; Skin Diseases; Thrombophilia

This paper presents color image processing methods for the analysis of dermatological images in the context of a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system. Tests were conducted on the classification of tissue components in skin lesions, in terms of necrotic tissue, fibrin, granulation, and mixed composition. The images were classified based on color components by an expert dermatologist following a black-yellow-red model. Indexing and retrieval of images were performed based on texture information obtained from the red, green, blue, hue, and saturation components of the color images. The performance of the CBIR system was measured in terms of precision and recall. Initial results demonstrate the potential of the proposed methods with the best precision result of 70% obtained for the characterization of mixed tissue composition.

Topics: Color; Fibrin; Granulation Tissue; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Information Storage and Retrieval; Necrosis; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Skin; Skin Diseases

Bothrops colombiensis venom from two similar geographical locations were tested for their hemostatic functions and characterized by gel-filtration chromatography and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The snakes were from Caucagua and El Guapo towns of the Venezuelan state of Miranda. Fibrino(geno)lytic, procoagulant, hemorrhagic, lethal activities, gel-filtration chromatography and SDS-PAGE profiles were analyzed and compared for both venoms. The highest hemorrhagic activity of 5.3 mug was seen in El Guapo venom while Caucagua venom had the lowest LD(50) of 5.8 mg/kg. Both venoms presented similar thrombin-like activity. El Guapo showed a factor Xa-like activity two times higher than Caucagua. Differences were observed in kallikrein-like and t-PA activities, being highest in El Guapo. Caucagua venom showed the maximum fibrin lysis. Both crude venom runs on Sephadex G-100 chromatography gave fraction SII with the high fibrinolytic activity. Proteases presented in SII fractions and eluted from Benzamidine-Sepharose (not bound to the column) provoked a fast degradation of fibrinogen alpha chains and a slower degradation of beta chains, which could possibly be due to a higher content of alpha fibrinogenases in these venoms. The fibrinogenolytic activity was decreased by metalloprotease inhibitors. The results suggested that metalloproteases in SII fractions were responsible for the fibrinolytic activity. The analysis of samples for fibrin-zymography of SII fractions showed an active band with a molecular mass of approximately 30 kDa. These results reiterate the importance of using pools of venoms for antivenom immunization, to facilitate the neutralization of the maximum potential number of toxins.

Topics: Animals; Blood Coagulation; Bothrops; Chromatography, Gel; Crotalid Venoms; Dextrans; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Factor Xa; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Fibrinolysis; Hemorrhage; Humans; Kallikreins; Lethal Dose 50; Metalloproteases; Mice; Molecular Weight; Peptide Hydrolases; Protease Inhibitors; Skin Diseases; Thrombin; Tissue Plasminogen Activator; Venezuela

The impact of clot stability affecting the vasculopathy and tissue necrosis in Shwartzman reaction was investigated using plasma Factor XIII A2-depleted rabbit (FXIII-DR). Plasma Factor XIIIA2 (FXIIIA2) was depleted by infusion of the mono-specific goat anti-rabbit FXIIIA2 IgG. Generalized Shwartzman reaction (GSR) was induced by priming and challenged by i.v. injection of LPS and local Shwartzman reaction (LSR) was primed by intradermal injection of LPS and challenged by i.v. injection of LPS. Histological examination of the GSR animals showed, extensive thrombi accumulation in renal tubules and bilateral cortical necrosis of kidney in 8 out of 10 rabbits but none in the FXIII-DR. Fibrinogen levels were elevated to 3 approximately 4 fold at 24 h and lowered at 48 h whereas a steady rise was seen in the FXIII-DR. FDP levels in GSR animals were significantly elevated at 24 h and further increased at 48 h but only slightly elevated in the FXIII-DR. Examination of the LSR tissues after 48 h showed an acute onset of progressive cutaneous vascular thrombosis, purpura, and secondary hemorrhagic necrosis whereas neither fibrin deposit nor necrosis of tissue were detected in FXIII-DR despite of an early edema formation. Fibrinogen levels were also increased two fold at 24 h but returned to basal levels at 48 h in control LSR animals but not affected at all in FXIII-DR. These results suggest that during the severe inflammatory conditions such as sepsis, the fibrinolytic system is functionally sufficient to dissipate the pathogenic accumulation of disseminated intravascular clots and exudated fibrin clots if those clots were prevented from getting crosslinked in plasma.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Disease Models, Animal; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Factor XIII; Factor XIII Deficiency; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Lipopolysaccharides; Necrosis; Plasminogen; Rabbits; Sepsis; Shwartzman Phenomenon; Skin; Skin Diseases

Immune injury of the basement membrane occurs in various human diseases. In the present study, an antibody specific for the basement membrane of mouse skin was injected i.d. into mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice and their congenic controls, WBB6F1-(+/+). Vascular permeability changes, oedema and fibrin deposition were assessed. Plasma permeation, evaluated by dye exudation, was time and dose dependent in both groups of animals, but significantly less in WBB6F1-W/Wv than in normal mice. At 30 min, the time of maximum in congenic controls, extravasation of the dye was 60% less in mast cell-deficient than in WBB6F1-(+/+) mice. Pyrilamine decreased exudation by 40% in normal but not in WBB6F1-W/Wv mice, indicating that the mast cell mediator histamine contributes to the increase in vascular permeability. Mast cell deficiency also markedly reduced fibrin deposition as assessed by direct immunostaining. Oedema, measured as skin thickness, was 60% less in WBB6F1-W/Wv mice than in their congenic controls. A 5-lipoxygenase blocker inhibited plasma exudation and oedema in normal but not in WBB6F1-W/Wv mice. This indicates that leukotrienes are involved in these processes and that mast cells are important for their production. Local mast cell reconstitution restored dye extravasation and oedema to normal levels as well as the effect of the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. These findings show that mast cells and their mediators participate in these inflammatory processes which were initiated by the deposition of IgG on the skin basement membrane.

Topics: Animals; Autoimmune Diseases; Basement Membrane; Capillary Permeability; Edema; Fibrin; Immunoglobulin G; Mast Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Skin; Skin Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biopsy; Child; Complement Activating Enzymes; Complement C1; Complement C1q; Complement C3; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fibrin; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Male; Middle Aged; Skin; Skin Diseases

The dermal changes in four cases of generalized granuloma annulare (GGA) and in four of localized granuloma annulare (LGA) were studied ultrastructurally, and the findings in the two groups were compared. The basic alterations were similar in both types, and showed varied stages of development. The cellular infiltrate was composed mostly of histiocytes. Cell debris was found in all lesions. The degenerative changes affected the collagen fibers, the elastic fibers, and the cellular infiltrate. Of special interest are the following findings in GGA: First, masses of intercellular fibrin material were seen only in the lesions of GGA. Second, thick and multilayered basal lamina around capillaries was apparently more common in the generalized form. These changes may suggest that a more pronounced immune reaction is responsible for the development of the generalized form of the disease.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Vessels; Connective Tissue; Female; Fibrin; Granuloma; Histiocytes; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Skin; Skin Diseases

A simple, effective and safe method is proposed to liquidate a persistent residual pleural cavity by a biological filling prepared ex tempore from a solution of fibrinogen with antibacterial drugs. The method was used in 24 patients after pleura empyema. The method of filling is described as well as the conditions for a successful use of the new means of liquidation of the residual pleural cavity and prevention of recurrent pleura empyemas.

Topics: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Bronchial Fistula; Combined Modality Therapy; Empyema; Fibrin; Fistula; Humans; Lung Diseases; Male; Pleural Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Prostheses and Implants; Skin Diseases

Topics: Fibrin; Humans; Skin; Skin Diseases

Heparinized blood was taken up into capillary tubes and kept in vertical position at 37 degrees C for 24 hours to allow the red cells to sediment. Microclots appearing as radiant fibrin stars were seen under phase microscopy in the plasma portion of blood from certain patients. Such a positive microclot generation (MCG) test occurred in patients with some inflammatory diseases and cancer as well as in patients with certain skin disorders. The data suggest that the MCG test may serve in the detection of endotoxemia.

Topics: Blood Sedimentation; Crystallization; Endotoxins; Female; Fibrin; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Skin Diseases

Eighteen cases of granuloma annulare were classified histopathologically and examined by direct immunofluorescence. The three different histopathologic types of granuloma annulare were compared with the result of immunofluorescence examination. No features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis were seen. Direct immunofluorescence of granuloma annulare does not reveal any consistent diagnostic pattern. Dermal desposition of fibrin in necrobiotic areas were noted in 8 cases of 18. Blood vessel and/or basement membrane deposition of IgM and C3 was inconsistent and does not support an immune complex vasculitis. Direct immunofluorescence is useful in studying the pathogenesis of granuloma annulare. The finding of fibrin, together with the histology, suggests to us a delayed hypersensitivity reaction as the dominant pathogenic event.

Topics: Complement C3; Fibrin; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Granuloma; Humans; Immunoglobulin M; Skin Diseases

25 cases of primary cutaneous amyloidosis are studied. 16 patients had macular amyloidosis (MPA) and 9 lichen amyloidosus (LPA). gamma-Globulins were increased in 50% of the patients. IgG and IgA were increased in the serum of 5 and 3 patients with MPA and 4 and 2 patients with LPA, respectively. Volume of amyloid deposits was similar in both forms. By direct immunofluorescence we demonstrated IgG in the amyloid deposits of 21 of the 25 cases and C3 in 13; IgM was present in 9 cases of MPA and in 3 cases of LPA. MPA was more frequent than LPA; histologically, it was impossible to distinguish MPA from LPA; correlation between serum levels of gamma-globulins and their presence in amyloid deposits was weak; MPA and LPA seem to be distinct clinical manifestations of the same disease and itching does not cause transformation of MPA in LPA.

Topics: Amyloidosis; Complement C3; Female; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Male; Middle Aged; Skin Diseases

The in vitro endotoxin-induced fibrin microclots could be completely inhibited in blood by treating the patient with an oral dose of 30--60 mg prednisone 24 h before drawing the blood sample. When added to 100 ml blood in vitro, the minimal inhibiting dose of corticosteroid is 0.004 mg betamethasone or 0.5 mg hydrocortisone.

Topics: Betamethasone; Blood Coagulation; Endotoxins; Fibrin; Humans; Hydrocortisone; In Vitro Techniques; Prednisone; Skin Diseases

Cytoid bodies represent roundish or polygonal, approximately cell-sized structures in histological sections. Such bodies have been reported to be of pathologic significance in several cutaneous disorders. Histological, immunological and electron microscopic investigations were performed in order to (1) characterize the different types of cytoid bodies in human skin, (2) elucidate their origin and nature and (3) determine their significance in cutaneous histopathology. A distinct identification of elastic globes, Russell bodies, Civatte bodies, amyloid bodies and cytoid fibrin bodies could be made. In addition, other substances such as nuclear or cytoplasmic debris, cytolytic fragments or basement membrane proliferations were found in form of cytoid aggregates in several dermatoses. However, none of the different groups of cytoid bodies was evaluated to be of pathognomonic significance for a specific disease. All of them are rather symptomatic for a number of anatomical or pathological principles and events in the dermo-epidermal junction area. Thus, the presence of cytoid bodies is not a major diagnostic aid in histopathology but may give valuable hints for a better interpretation of the morphogenesis of etiologically unrelated skin disorders.

Topics: Amyloid; Elastin; Fibrin; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Skin; Skin Diseases; Skin Manifestations; Staining and Labeling

The study includes 40 cases of skin replacement performed by an ophthalmologist over a period of 4 years. An absorbable implant material, Bioplast fibrin, was used as a graft following the extirpation of 12 eyelid tumors, the treatment of eight fresh, destructive skin injuries, and the removal of deforming scars around the eyes, in 20 cases. The biocompatible implant provided barrier properties preventing infection or excessive fluid loss. The resorption rate was adjusted to 3-4 weeks. These grafts were gradually replaced by new epithelial tissue growing in from the periphery of the wound edge. The new tissue had the elasticity and cosmetic appearance of surrounding skin. Thus, small periorbital skin tumors can now be removed without the necessity of doing a split thickness skin graft to cover the defect.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biocompatible Materials; Cicatrix; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; Eye Injuries; Eyelid Neoplasms; Female; Fibrin; Granuloma; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Skin; Skin Diseases

Heparinized blood from patients with a variety of dermatological problems was incubated with killed bacteria, bacterial extracts or Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin. Within 18-24 h asteroid bodies consisting of an amorphous centre with fine radiating needle crystals were seen. These bodies, not found in the blood of healthy volunteers, were most consistently observed in blood from patients with psoriasis, vasculitis and bacterial infections. Immunofluorescent studies disclosed the asteroid formations to be crystals of fibrin radiating presumably from a central platelet aggregate. The failure to demonstrate IgG, A, M or D suggests that the phenomenon results from the bacterial activation of complement by a non-immune yet specific pathway which in turn involves white cells, platelet aggregation and release of procoagulants.

Topics: Antigens, Bacterial; Bacterial Toxins; Crystallization; Female; Fibrin; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Polysaccharides, Bacterial; Psoriasis; Skin Diseases

Direct immunofluorescence studies were carried out in eleven specimens of granuloma annulare. The results (in all cases) indicate the presence of focal deposition of fibrin, localized primarily in the intervascular portion of the dermis, corresponding to the granulomatous and necrobiotic areas. These findings implicate the cellular mechanism of delayed hypersensitivity with focal involvement of the clotting system in the development of granuloma annulare lesion.

Topics: Blood Coagulation; Complement C3; Fibrin; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Granuloma; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Immunity, Cellular; Immunoglobulin M; Necrobiosis Lipoidica; Sarcoidosis; Skin; Skin Diseases

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Blood Proteins; Chemical Precipitation; Cold Temperature; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Heparin; Humans; Psoriasis; Skin Diseases

Thirty-one patients with cutaneous necrotizing vascultis were studied for immunological and coagulation disturbances. Serum immunoglobulin levels did not correlate with tissue deposition of the corresponding immunoglobulins in the lesions of cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis. In all instances, localization of immunoglobulins, complement, and fibrinogen, when present in the lesions of necrotizing vasculitis, was limited to the vascular wall or perivascular space. Soluble fibrinogen-fibrin complexes (cryoprofibrin) were detected in the blood of four of 17 patients with cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis. Since it represents a product of the limited action of thrombin on fibrinogen, its presence in the blood in some patients with necrotizing vasculitis suggests that intravascular coagulation may play a part in the pathogenesis of the disease. In 12 of the 31 patients studied, a cause of the vasculitis was found or presumed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Blood Coagulation Tests; Child; Complement C3; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Female; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Male; Middle Aged; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Proteins; Skin; Skin Diseases

The histotopical distribution of IgD and fibrin was examined in skin lesions of 12 patients with cutaneous vasculitis, by means of the direct IF method. IgD was found in 9 cases mostly in a striking fixation to the PMN-leucocytic inflammation cells. Homogeneous depositions of IgD in cutaneous blood vessel walls were seen twice. In 3 cases with older, lympho-histiocytic infiltrations, IgD was lacking. Fibrin was constantly present in the blood vessel walls of fresh and older vasculitis lesions, and showed up in the regions of "fibrinoid necrosis" in form of distorted vascular rings. Although neither IgD nor fibrin appear in a disease-specific histotopical distribution, their simultaneous in vivo demonstration, connected with the result of vascular bound complement, is a good aid to substantiate the diagnosis of cutaneous vasculitis.

Topics: Fibrin; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunoglobulin D; Inflammation; Microcirculation; Skin; Skin Diseases; Vascular Diseases

Topics: Basement Membrane; Blood Vessels; Collagen; Cytoplasmic Granules; Erythema; Fibrin; Humans; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Mitochondria; Purpura; Skin Diseases

Topics: Animals; Carbon Dioxide; Caustics; Connective Tissue; Fibrin; Glucose; Heparin; Histamine; Rats; Skin; Skin Diseases

Topics: Beta-Globulins; Electrophoresis; Erythrocytes; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; gamma-Globulins; Hemagglutination; Humans; Immunochemistry; Immunoelectrophoresis; Immunoglobulin G; Keratosis; Lipoproteins; Psoriasis; Serum Albumin; Skin; Skin Diseases; Solubility; Transferrin