S100α and S100β proteins in human cutaneous sensory corpuscles: Effects of nerve and spinal cord injury

S100 protein in the vertebrate peripheral nervous system consists of homo- or heterodimers of S100α and S100β proteins, the first predominating in neurons and the second in glial cells. Recently, however, occurrence of S100β protein in neurons has been reported. The expression of S100 protein by Schwann cells, as well as their derivatives in sensory corpuscles, depends on the sensory axon (i.e., the Schwann cell–axon contact). The present study analyzed the distribution of S100α and S100β proteins in human cutaneous sensory corpuscles and the effects of peripheral or central sensory axon severance in the expression of these proteins. Simple or double immunohistochemistry was carried out usi…