ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the localization and expression of transfo rming grow th factor-? 1,2 (TGF-? 1,2 ) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (?- ASMA) in fetal a nd adult skins. METHODS: Skins of 15 cases of fetuses with different gestational ages and 5 cases of adults were taken, embedded with paraffin wax, and sectione d. Immunohistochemistry method and pathological method were used to detect the e xpression intensity and distribution of TGF-? 1,2 and ?-ASMA. RESULTS: Positive immunohistochemical signals of TGF-? 1,2 and ?-A SMA were found in fetal and adult skins. In skins derived from young fet us, the positive signals of these three proteins were very weak. Along with the incr ement in gestational age, the positive cellular rates of TGF-? 1,2 and ?- ASMA were elevated pro gressively. In elder fetal and adult skins, TGF-? 1,2 were mostly distributed i n epidermal cells, endothelial cells and some fibroblasts, while ?-ASMA was mainly located in myofibroblasts and sweat gland epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: The endo genous TGF-? 1,2 might be involved in the cutaneous development at embryoni c stage, in the cutaneous structure maintenance at adult stage, and in the wound healing af ter injury.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate gene expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), its receptor (EGFR) and two protooncogenes (c-fos and c-myc), in fetal skin at different development stages and children skin and to delineate their potential biological significance. Methods Fetal skin biopsies of human embryo were obtained from spontaneous abortions at different gestational ages from 13 to 32 weeks and children skin specimens were collected from patients undergoing plastic surgery. After morphological characteristics of skin at different development stages were detected with histological methods, gene expressions of EGF, EGFR, c-fos and c-myc in skin at different development stages were examined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR). Results Gene expression of EGF, EGFR, c-fos or c-myc could all be detected in fetal and childern skins. In fetal skin, the gene expression of these 4 genes was weak. Gene expression of these genes in skin was progressively enhanced with increasing gestational age. In children skin, the mRNA contents of these 4 genes were significantly increased in comparison with those in fetal skin (P