The Study of bcl-2 Expression by Retinoids in a Human Melanoma Cell Line / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Apoptoss plays a major role in cellular proliferation and differentiation in tumor cells. Bcl-2, proto-oncogene, is known to inhibit apoptotic cell death of tumor cells. The high expression of bcl-2 in human melanoma cells over transforrned keratinocytes has been reported. The Loton group indicated that the growth of human melanoma cells exposed to retinoids was inhibit ed and their cellular melanin content incrensed over that of the untreated ce1Ls. The Veis group reported that bcl-2 defieient mice showed hypopigmented hair. Which suggests that bcl-2 may in volve melanogenesis. The Above mentioned findings may suggest that. bcl-2 and retinoids may play a role in melanoms biology. OBJECTIVE: We under ook this study to elucidate a possible relationship between retinoids and bcl-2 expvessions in human melanoma cell lines. METHODS: We analysed bcl-2 expressions from SK 28 cells(melanoma cell lines) after pretreat ment with retinoids using flow cytometry and imtnunoblotting. RESULTS: 1. In the results of the preliminary studies, we found that cultured human keratinocytes, fibro blasts and melanocytes n the resting state showed expressions of bcl-2. The latter showed a four fold expression of bcl-2. 2. Expression of bcl-2 was detected in SK 28, a human melanoma cell line, in the resting state. 3. After incubation with isotretinoin or etretinate treatment at 37 degrees C, for 48 hours, this treated group showed a more ir creased expression of bcl-2 than the control group. CONCLUSION: Our data may explain that the mechanism of ret.inoids indur,ing inhibition of mela noma cell growth may be partly due to upregulation of bcl-2 expression. The high base-line ex pression of bcl-2 in melanoma cells may tell us why these pigment cells can survive against oxi dative products generated during melanogenesis.

Four Cases of Acquired Perforating Disease in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure / 대한피부과학회지

Acquired perforating disease(APD) is characterized by hyperkeratotic papules with transepidermal elimination of degenerated material and is associated with renal disease and/or diabetes. Particular attention has been directed to transepidermal elimination because the articles on perforating diseases among patients with chronic renal failure and/or diabetes have been increasingly reported. We describe four patients with chronic renal failure and/or diabetes whose skin biopsy specimens showed transepidermal elimination.

Apoptotic Keratinocytes in Acrodermatitis Enteropathica / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The cause of acrodermatitis enteropathica(AE) is closely related to zinc deficiency. Zinc is a potent inhibitor of endonuclease. Acute rises in the apoptosis in lymphoid and myeloid cell lines during zinc deficiency has recently been reported. The method of terminal transferase mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL) is used in situ labelling of apoptotic nuclei in routine tissue sections. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to clarify our hypothesis that apoptosis resulted from zinc deficiency might cause keratinocytes damages in AE. METHOD: We stained 6 AE biopsy specimen with TUNEL technique. RESULTS: In acroderrratitis enteropathica, apoptotic keratinocytes were shown in the entire epidermis as compared to normal, controlled skin, in which it was found only at the uppermost layer of this stratified epithelium. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that apoptosis resulting from zinc deficiency might play a role in keratinocyte death in AE.

A Case of Generalized Familial Benign Pemphigus

Familial benign pemphigus(Hailey-Hailey disease) is a rare hereditary dermatosis that begins in the 2nd or 3rd decade of life. The skin lesion is characterized by a localized, recurrent eruption of small vesicles on an erythematous base. During its course there are remissions and exacerbations. It seldom begins in early childhood or after the age of 50. The main treatment modalities are conservative ones. A 59-year-old woman with familial benign chronic pemphigus presented with a 10 year history of generalized pruritic recurrent skin lesions on her neck, axilla, inguinal, antecubital, and trunk area. Physical examination showed moist, macerated, fissured and scaly patches on an erythematous base in the axillae, groins, neck, antecubital, and trunk. A biopsy specimen showed extensive suprabasal separation containing acantholytic cells.