Immunoreactivity to Meissner corpuscles and dermal nerves in a bullous arthropod bite reaction
Ana Maria Abreu Velez1, Alejandra Maria Jiménez-Echavarria2, Michael S. Howard1
1Georgia Dermatopathology Associates, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; 2Dermatology Resident, Hospital das Clinicas da Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
Corresponding author: Ana Maria Abreu Velez, M.D, Ph.D., E-mail: abreuvelez@yahoo.com
Submission: 04.10.2016; Acceptance: 20.11.2016
DOI: 10.7241/ourd.20171.28
Sir,
A clinical pruritus and inflammation is present following most insect bites. Here we document immunoreactivity to Meissner corpuscles and dermal nerves following arthropod bites.
Case: A 67 year old male presented with small, itchy red bumps, and recalled recent insect bites (Fig. 1a). We examined his skin biopsies utilizing hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and direct immunofluorescence (DIF). These tests and the clinical data demonstrated evidence of insect bites. Following the diagnosis of arthropod bites, the patient was instructed to wash the lesions with soap and water, apply cool compresses, use antihistamines to relieve itching and acetaminophen for pain relief. In addition, 1% Hydrocortisone cream was prescribed, and the patient reported symptomatic relief.
Our hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and multiple fluorochrome direct immunofluorescence (DIF) procedures were performed as previously described [1,2]. For nerve co-localization, we utilized Cy3 conjugated anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody from Sigma-Aldrich (Saint Louis, Missouri, USA). We also used Texas red conjugated Protein Gene Product 9.5 antibody (PPG 9.5) from Abcam (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) and performed nuclear counterstaining with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI; Pierce, Rockford, Illinois, USA). All samples were consistently run with positive and negative controls. We classified our DIF findings as negative (-), weakly positive (+), positive (++/+++) and strongly positive (++++). H&E staining showed subepidermal blistering, with a moderately florid superficial and perivascular infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes and eosinophils; these findings were consistent with a bullous arthropod bite reaction (Fig. 1b). The multicolor DIF showed reactivity to Meissner corpuscles (MCs) and dermal nerves under the bite, using neural markers colocalizing with antibodies to human Complement/C3c and fibrinogen (Figs. 1c and d). The PAS stain showed positive staining of basement membrane areas around the blister.
Overall, our DIF displayed IgG (+, punctate staining in epidermal stratum spinosum); IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE, Complement/C1q, Complement/C3 and Kappa light chains (all ++, all with punctate staining on possible dermal cell junctions of an unknown nature; Complement/C3 (+++, on dermal grouped nerves; albumin (++, staining on several large deep dermal nerves) and fibrinogen (++, dermal perivascular, on dermal nerves and on MCs). Large deep dermal nerves also stained positive for PPG9.5; small dermal nerves and Meissner corpuscles stained positive for GFAP (+++). In summary, we detected immunoreactivity to dermal nerves and MCs subjacent to the insect bite using multiple fluorochrome DIF.
Bites or stings from arthropods are common, and sometimes an allergic reaction occurs to toxins associated with the bite or sting. Some individuals have severe clinical reactions to the stings of bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and or other insects [3]. These stings may require emergency treatment for anaphylactic reactions. Here we report, to our knowledge for the first time an arthropod bite showing reactivity to Meissner’s corpuscles (MCs). MCs are a type of nerve ending in the skin, responsible for sensitivity to light touch. These corpuscles display the highest sensitivity for detecting vibrations, and are rapidly adaptive receptors [4]. Nerves and Meissner corpuscles colocalized with neural antibodies, as well as autoantibodies developed by the patient after the arthropod bite. We conducted a combined PubMed search for all publication years entering “arthropod bites” and the Mesh words “Meissner corpuscles”; we found no citations. We have previously reported nerve reactivity following a scabies mite infection. MCs are part of the purinergic signaling system; this system involves adenosine 5’-triphosphate and adenosine receptors, neurotransmission, exocrine and endocrine secretion and regulation of immune cell function [4].
The significance of our findings is unknown; we suggest further investigation into these findings.
REFERENCES
1. Abreu Velez AM, Klein AD, Howard MS, Autoreactivity to sweat glands and nerves in aclinical scabies infectionNorth Am J Med Sci 2010; 2: 422-5.
2. Abreu Velez AM, Calle Isaza J, Howard MS, Immunofluorescence patterns in selected dermatoses, including blistering skin diseases utilizing multiple fluorochomesNorth Am J Med Sci 2015; 7: 397-402.
3. Singh S, Mann BK, Insect bite reactionsIndian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2013; 79: 151-64.
4. Paré M, Elde R, Mazurkiewicz JE, Smith AM, Rice FL, The Meissner corpuscle revised:a multiafferented mechanoreceptor with nociceptor immunochemical propertiesJ Neurosci 2001; 15: 217236-46.
Notes
Source of Support: Georgia Dermatopathology Associates, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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