Detection of Human Papilloma Virus DNA in Seborrheic Keratosis of Korean Skin

BACKGROUND: DNA of epidermodysplasia verruciformis(EV)-associated human papillomaviruses (HPVs) has been detected in benign and malignant skin tumors and other proliferative diseases of epithelial origin. The objective of this study was to determine the association of EV-associated HPV DNA in nongenital seborrheic keratoses(SK) in Korean patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty biopsy specimens were collected from patients with nongenital SK and cutaneous SCC and controls. All tissue samples were examined by PCR. RESULTS: By polymerase chain reaction(PCR), EV-associated HPV DNA was detected in 15 of 40 nongenital SK(37.5%) compared with 1 of 40 cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas(SCC) samples and 3 of 40 healthy controls. Detected viruses in SK included HPV 20(n=6), HPV 23 (n=2). The rest tested positive for HPV 5, 16, 17, 22, 25, 37, and RTRX4. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that EV-associated HPV may be involved in the pathogenesis of nongenital SK of Asian skin.

Expression of p63 in Various Hyperproliferative Skin Diseases

The keratinocytes in human epidermis are replaced by a population of stem cells located in the basal layer of the epidermis and one candidate stem cell marker is the transcription factor p63. We studied the expression of p63, immunohistochemically, in various hyperproliferative skin diseases (10 poorly differentiated metastatis squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), 10 non-metastatic primary cutaneous SCCs, 10 cases of Bowen's diseases, 10 actinic keratosis, and 10 melanomas) and also observed the change of p63 expression in psoriasis after cyclosporine treatment. p63 was normally expressed in basal layer cells. Poorly-differentiated metastatic SCC showed the highest expression in most of the tumor cells, while psoriasis, actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease and primary SCC showed an increased expression in the basal and suprabasal area compared to in normal epidermis. The cyclosporine treatment in psoriasis reduced the expression of p63 to a normal level. This data suggests that p63 expression may influence tumor cell differentiation and proliferation without a direct tumorigenesis effect in epithelial tissue.

Expression of Neuropeptides and Their Receptors in Psoriatic Lesions / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Neuroimmunocutaneous system alteration can be responsible for the induction and maintenance of the inflammatory process of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to examine the expression of Substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), somatostatin (SOM), neutral endopeptidase (NEP), SP receptor, and CGRP receptor in psoriatic lesions. METHODS: A skin biopsy was obtained from 10 psoriatic patients and 10 normal control subjects. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was performed. RESULTS: The SP and CGRP receptors consistently increased in psoriatic lesions, compared to the normal controls. CONCLUSION: The increased expression of neuropeptides and their receptors may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.