Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Skin Res Technol. 2021 May;27(3):316-323. doi: 10.1111/srt.12974. Epub 2020 Oct 6.
Enteric neuropathy is described in most patients with gastrointestinal dysmotility and may be found together with reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD). The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether three-dimensional (3d) imaging of skin biopsies could be used to examine various tissue components in patients with gastrointestinal dysmotility.
Four dysmotility patients of different etiology and two healthy volunteers were included. From each subject, two 3-mm punch skin biopsies were stained with antibodies against protein gene product 9.5 or evaluated as a whole with two X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (CT) setups, a laboratory µCT setup and a dedicated synchrotron radiation nanoCT end-station.
Two patients had reduced IENFD, and two normal IENFD, compared with controls. µCT and X-ray phase-contrast holographic nanotomography scanned whole tissue specimens, with optional high-resolution scans revealing delicate structures, without differentiation of various fibers and cells. Irregular architecture of dermal fibers was observed in the patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and the patient with idiopathic dysmotility showed an abundance of mesenchymal ground substance.
3d phase-contrast tomographic imaging may be useful to illustrate traits of connective tissue dysfunction in various organs and to demonstrate whether disorganized dermal fibers could explain organ dysfunction.
肠神经病在大多数胃肠道动力障碍患者中均有描述，并且可能与表皮内神经纤维密度降低（IENFD）一起发现。本初步研究的目的是评估三维（3d）成像皮肤活检是否可用于检查胃肠道动力障碍患者的各种组织成分。
纳入了四位不同病因的动力障碍患者和两位健康志愿者。从每位受试者中，取两个 3mm 打孔皮肤活检，用针对蛋白基因产物 9.5 的抗体染色，或用两种 X 射线相衬 CT（CT）设置、实验室 µCT 设置和专用同步辐射纳米 CT 端站进行整体评估。
与对照组相比，有两位患者的 IENFD 降低，有两位患者的 IENFD 正常。µCT 和 X 射线相衬全息纳米断层扫描可扫描整个组织标本，可选的高分辨率扫描可揭示细微结构，而无需区分各种纤维和细胞。在埃勒斯-当洛斯综合征患者中观察到真皮纤维的不规则结构，而特发性动力障碍患者表现出丰富的间质基质。
3d 相衬断层成像可能有助于说明各种器官中结缔组织功能障碍的特征，并证明紊乱的真皮纤维是否可以解释器官功能障碍。
