The expression of placental-type glutathione S-transferase (GST-π) in human cutaneous carcinoma in situ, that is, actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease, compared with normal human skin

Abstract

The expression of human placental type glutathione S-transferase (GST-pi) was investigated in human cutaneous carcinoma in situ, that is, actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease, and compared with that in normal skin, using Northern blot and immunohistochemical analysis. In Northern blot examination, the expression of GST-pi transcript was recognized in all instances. Carcinoma in situ showed significantly higher expressions of GST-pi than normal skin. In the immunohistochemical examination, nuclear staining of GST-pi was noticed in some dysplastic cells of carcinoma in situ, especially in Bowen's disease. In actinic keratosis, a framework appearance was noticed in the staining pattern at a lower magnification because the lower part of the cytoplasm of dysplastic cells lining the stratum basale was positive for GST-pi, and all cells of the stratum granulosum and more cells of the stratum spinosum showed stronger GST-pi positive reaction than normal skin. In Bowen's disease, GST-pi positive, dysplastic cells existed throughout the epidermis. Because GST-pi positive, dysplastic cells and GST-pi positive, normal looking squamous cells made the GST-pi positive cell nests throughout the epidermis, and GST-pi positive, dysplastic cells, and GST-pi negative, normal looking cells coexisted in the parabasal layer, they showed a sawtooth appearance in the staining pattern at a lower magnification. These findings suggest that GST-pi is involved in the process of carcinogenesis.

Immunohistochemistry of Omega Class Glutathione S-Transferase in Human Tissues

“…However, nuclear localization has been recognized. Nuclear expression of GSTP has been reported in normal epithelium of esophagus (van Lieshout et al 1999) and cervix (Randall et al 1990) and in neoplastic lesions of skin (Shimizu et al 1995), cervix (Randall et al 1990), esophagus (van Lieshout et al 1999), mouth (Zhang et al 1998), and gliomas (Ali-Osman et al 1997). Nuclear expression of a theta class GST (GSTT) has also been observed in hepatocytes and bile duct cells (Quondamatteo et al 1998).…”

Glutathione S -transferase π-class as a tumour marker in lingual preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of rats and humans

“…In contrast to benign lesion and mild to moderate dysplasia, the cases of severe dysplasia, CIS and SCC showed a tendency to nuclear and/or basal cell staining. Nuclear staining of GST-π has already been previously reported in premalignant lesions of human oral mucosa [34] and skin [22]. Its presence has been related to the malignant transformation and progression in transitional cell carcinoma [30].…”

“…Several studies in rat models of chemical liver carcinogenesis have showed that the π-class GST (the placental form) is induced in preneoplastic hepatocytic foci and may be used as a marker for preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions [6,14,19,20]. It has thus been proposed that the π-class might be a useful marker for the detection of preneoplastic and neoplastic cells in humans, and increased GST-π expression has been found in a wide variety of human tumours [4,10,16,17,22,23,31].…”