Nestin is an intermediate filament protein expressed in neuroepithelial stem 
cells during development and it is later replaced by cell specific neuronal or 
glial filaments. Nevertheless, nestin⁺ cells remain within adult tissues and 
they can be regarded as potential neural stem cell (NSC). Nestin⁺ cells have 
been detected in Schwann cells related with sensory corpuscles of rodent and 
they have been demonstrated to be NSC. We have investigated the existence of 
nestin⁺ in human cutaneous cells Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles through the 
use of immunohistochemistry techniques and in situ hybridization. S100 protein 
(also regarded as a marker for NSC) and vimentin (the intermediate filament of 
mature Schwann cells in sensory corpuscles) were also investigated. The results 
show that the adult human cutaneous sensory Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles 
contains a small population of Schwann-related cells (vimentin⁺) which on the 
basis of their basic immunohistochemical characteristics (S100 protein⁺, 
nestin⁺) can be potential NSCs. Cells sharing identical immunohistochemical 
profile were also found in the close vicinity of Meissner corpuscles. Because 
their localization they are easily accessible and may represent a peripheral 
niche of NSC to be used for therapeutic goals.