Figure 1: irhom2−/− mice exhibit reduction in epidermal thickness.
From: Rhomboid family member 2 regulates cytoskeletal stress-associated Keratin 16
(a) The hind paws of 16-week-old irhom2−/− and irhom2+/+ littermates (n=4 per genotype) were photographed, revealing pallor and diminution of the major stress-bearing paw footpads calluses (black arrowhead) in adult irhom2−/− mice. (b) Haematoxylin and eosin-stained cross-sections of hind-paw footpads showed a reduction in thickness of the epidermis (black line) in irhom2−/− mice. Scale bars, 50 μm. (c) Graph depicts the mean thickness of the epidermis of hind paw and back skin from irhom2+/+ and irhom2−/− mice calculated from ten individual measurements in five separate cross-sections from each genotype (n=3); error bars denote s.d., *P<0.05 (Student’s t-test). (d) Immunohistochemistry showing similar K9 expression in paw skin sections. Scale bars, 20 μm. (e) Immunohistochemistry demonstrating reduction of K16 expression in paw skin sections. Scale bars, 20 μm. (f) Immunohistochemistry showing upregulation of K6 expression in the hind paw epidermis of irhom2−/− mice compared with irhom2+/+. (g) TOC patient feet showing symmetrically thickened skin at pressure-bearing sites (black arrowheads) on the plantar epidermis. (h) TOC skin demonstrates increased K16 expression throughout the epidermis in comparison with control inter-follicular skin. Scale bars, 20 μm.
