Expression of apoptotic, cell proliferation regulatory, and structural proteins in actinic keratosis and their association with dermal elastosis

Abstract

Background: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a premalignant lesion caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and characterized by epithelial and connective tissue alterations. However, little is known about the link between connective and UV-damaged epithelial tissues in AK. Objective and Methods: To examine the potential relationship between connective tissue degeneration and molecular alterations in epithelial cells without evident morphologic changes, 30 cases of AK (8, grade I; 10, grade II; 12, grade III), divided into three grades according to the proportion of dermal elastosis (in grade I, up to 30% of collagen degeneration; in grade II, 30-60%; in grade III, more than 60%), were immunohistochemically analyzed for the expression of Ki67, p53, p63, bcl-2, E-cadherin, 34-betaE12, and CD99. Results: The increase in the solar elastosis grade was associated with an increase in positive cell numbers for all analyzed markers. Basal expression predominated in the lesions with low and moderate levels of connective tissue degeneration, while a basal and suprabasal expression pattern was prevalent in the lesions with high degeneration. In grade I and II lesions, proliferation marker, Ki67, expression was found to be significantly associated with the proapoptotic marker p53, while in grade III lesions, its expression was correlated with the anti-apoptotic marker, bcl-2. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the epithelial expression of apoptotic, cell proliferation, and structural proteins is augmented with the increase of the solar elastosis grade. Thus, the grade of solar elastosis could be a helpful morphologic marker in the assessment of neoplastic changes in sun-damaged skin. da Silva TA, Coelho G, Bocca AL Neto FFC. Expression of apoptotic, cell proliferation regulatory, and structural proteins in actinic keratosis and their association with dermal elastosis.

Elastin Accumulation in Actinic Cheilitis with Different Degrees of Epithelial Dysplasia

“…Histologically, the superficial lamina propia presents extensive basophilic degeneration of collagen (Cavalcante et al, 2008;dos Santos et al, 2003;Markopoulos et al, 2004;Martinez et al, 2005;Rojas et al, 2004). Among other findings, the epithelial lining may display varying degrees of dysplasia ranging from a mild change to carcinoma in situ, and even invasive carcinoma (Araújo et al, 2010;Cavalcante et al;da Silva et al, 2007;Markopoulos et al;Xavier et al, 2009).…”

Full-Thickness Skin Graft as an Independent or Adjunctive Technique for Repair of Cicatricial Lower Eyelid Ectropion Secondary to Actinic Skin Changes

“…Upregulation of proapoptotic and cellular proliferation markers as well as matrix metalloproteinases are thought to lead to abnormal accumulation of thickened elastic fibers and degradation of collagen. [1][2][3] Untreated lower eyelid ectropion may result in cosmetic and functional consequences including keratitis, conjunctival keratinization, corneal ulceration, globe perforation, and blindness.…”

Actinic keratosis in dogs

“…As dermatopatias provocadas pela exposição excessiva à radiação solar são amplamente pesquisadas em medicina humana (CARPENTER et al, 2004;OH et al, 2004;BERMAN et al, 2006;SILVA et al, 2006;RÖWERT-HUBER et al, 2007;ULRICH et al, 2007). Entretanto, o mesmo não ocorre em medicina veterinária, apesar da elevada incidência destas doenças (ALMEIDA et al, 2001;PRONOVOST et al, 2004;TAMMENHAIN et al, 2008;FAVROT et al, 2009).…”