Basement Membrane Zone
The dermal-epidemal basement membrane plays a crucial role in cutaneous biology. The development of the high quality light microscope and the discovery of specific histologic stains led to the recognition of the dermal epidermal basement membrane as an important structure in epidermal biology. While these initial observations suggested that the dermal epidermal basement membrane might be a homogenous molecule, the introduction of high resolution imaging in the 1970's revealed the full structural complexity of the dermal-epidermal junction. Following in quick order, the chemical and molecular nature of the hemidesmosome and anchoring devices was elucidated by the discovery of numerous specialized BMZ proteins. Most recently, genetic studies and the development of animal models demonstrating many features of BM diseases have proven a great opportunity for increasing our understanding of the importance of different components of the BMZ, as well as the biology, pathogenesis, and treatment of disease.
Articles
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Discovery of Basement Membrane Zone Ultrastructural Entities by Electron Microscopy
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Discovery of Basement Membrane Components
- Discovery of Specialized Basement Membrane Zone Proteins and their Alterations in Epidermolysis Bullosa
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Cloning of Genes for Basement Membrane Proteins and Discovery of Mutations in Epidermolysis Bullosa
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Development of Animal Models to Study Basement Membranes
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Role of the Basement Membrane Zone in Skin Development
- BMZ Destruction and Remodeling: Understanding Proteases and the Basement Membrane
Subject index
Cutaneous biology is the study of cellular and molecular biology of human skin and its associated diseases. Milestones in Cutaneous Biology brings together highly respected researchers to write on a number of subjects relating to this field's highlights over the last 100 years. Some of the subjects this series will cover are: Desmosome, Basement Membrane, Hair/Sebaceous Glands/Nails, Dermal Proteins/Matrix/Collagen, Wound Healing, Melanocytes/Melanogenesis, Psoriasis, and Atopic Dermatitis.