RESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate whether apoptosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of cutaneous changes in lupus erythematosus [LE] and whether certain apoptosis-related markers such as p53 and Bcl-2 proteins take part in this process. Skin biopsies from ten patients with specific cutaneous lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] and five healthy controls were studied. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling technique [TUNEL]. The expression of p53 and Bcl-2 was studied by immunohistochemistry. The results showed a remarkable increase in the apoptotic rate within the epidermis in SLE. Unlike normal skin, a large number of keratinocytes, particularly those morphologically apoptotic, expressed p53 protein. Bcl-2 expression was similar in both normal and lesional skin