Ultrastructural characterization of damage in the basement membrane of facial melasma

The pathogenesis of melasma is not fully understood, and the role of skin basement membrane zone (BMZ) alterations in disease development and the maintenance of hypermelanogenesis are also poorly known. We performed a comparative study to characterize the ultrastructural alterations that occur in BMZ in melasma and adjacent normal skin, as well as we discuss the implications of these changes in the physiopathology of the disease. Pairs of facial skin biopsies (2 mm) from 10 women with melasma and normal skin (< 2 cm apart) were processed by Transmission Electronic Microscopy or immunohistochemistry for Melan-A counterstained with Periodic acid–Schiff stain. Cytoplasmic organelles (from keratinocyte or melanocyte), BMZ damage were assessed and melanocyte counting (total and pendulous) was done. There was greater amount of cytoplasmic organelles inside basal keratinocytes and melanocytes in melasma, as well as structural damaged areas in the lamina densa (disruptions, gaps, lower density and thinning) and anchoring fibrils (lamina lucida), compared to healthy adjacent skin. Areas with pendulous melanocytes are characterized by discontinuity of BMZ ultrastructure. The prominence of cytoplasmic organelles from melanocytes and keratinocytes evidences the involvement of both cell groups in melasma. The damage in the lamina densa and lamina lucida suggest the role of upper dermis injury/repair process in the pathogenesis of the disease.