ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human cancer. It is thought that skewed expression of desmogleins (Dsgs) in BCC may promote tumourigenesis. AIM: To comparatively examine expression of Dsg2/Dsg3, using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in BCC subtypes. METHODS: In total, 84 frozen sections from patients with various clinical or histological subtypes of BCC were analyzed. Expressions of Dsg2/Dsg3 protein and Dsg2/Dsg3 mRNA were evaluated using IHC and FISH, respectively, in BCC nests and BCC-free epidermis, and then quantitatively measured. RESULTS: There was loss of correlation between Dsg2 and Dsg3 (IHC) in nodular and superficial BCC (nBCC, sBCC), and significant correlation between Dsg2 and Dsg3 (FISH) in BCC, but not nBCC and sBCC. CONCLUSIONS: Because more prominent aberrations of Dsg2/Dsg3 expression were seen at the protein than at the mRNA level in BCC, these comparative observations indicate greater importance of events at the proteome level than those at the genome level in tumour functional compartments. Different Dsg2/Dsg3 expression in sBCC and nBCC might corroborate the possibility that sBCC and nBCC are separate conditions. These results may contribute to better understanding of the biological behaviour of BCC.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/metabolism , Desmoglein 2/metabolism , Desmoglein 3/metabolism , Skin Neoplasms/metabolism , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/pathology , Desmoglein 2/genetics , Desmoglein 3/genetics , Female , Gene Expression Profiling , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Male , Middle Aged , Protein Isoforms/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Skin Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
Acroangiodermatitis (AAD) is a rare, vascular phenomenon of unclear pathogenesis. Itchy, lichenoid, purple/violaceous/yellowish/brownish papules/nodules, plaques/patches mainly on lower limbs occasionally evolve into verrucous lesions and recurrent painful ulcerations. Elevated vein and capillary pressure due to the sub-atmospheric suspension system seems to be the triggering factor for angioproliferation in the amputation stump. A middle-aged male amputee, a suction-socket prosthesis user, showing combined clinical, histological and immunohistochemical (HHV-8 negative; CD34 and CD31 expressed in endothelial, but not perivascular, cells) features of AAD is presented. Dermatologists, orthopedic surgeons, pathomorphologists, but also prosthesis makers and amputees themselves, should be aware of AAD as suction-socket prostheses become increasingly popular.
