Acantholysis
Pronunciation: ak-an-tho-LY-sis
The loss of intercellular cohesion between keratinocytes in the epidermis, resulting in the formation of intraepidermal blisters or clefts.
Full Definition
Acantholysis occurs when desmosomes — the adhesion structures binding keratinocytes together — are disrupted either by autoantibodies, genetic defects, or viral cytopathic effects, causing individual cells to become rounded and detached. It is a key histological finding in pemphigus vulgaris, Darier disease, and Hailey-Hailey disease. In pathology reports and journal articles, acantholysis is a critical term that defines blister-forming mechanisms and must not be substituted for 'acanthosis' or 'spongiosis,' both of which describe different epidermal changes. Editors reviewing dermatology manuscripts should verify the term is applied accurately to intraepidermal rather than subepidermal blistering. The term is consistently lower case in running text.
Usage
Usage note: Strictly an intraepidermal process. If a report describes subepidermal clefting, 'acantholysis' is incorrect.
In Context
- "Histological examination revealed suprabasal acantholysis, supporting a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris." — Histopathology report
- "The manuscript incorrectly used 'acantholysis' to describe subepidermal blistering, which should instead read 'dermoepidermal separation.'" — Manuscript review note