title: Neuron-specific enolase is a marker of cutaneous Langerhans' cell histiocytosis ("X")-a comparative study with S100 protein.
abstract: The immunohistochemical expression of neuron-specific enolase (gamma/gamma) (NSE) was studied comparatively with S100 protein in a group of Langerhans-cell-type ("X") (n = 8) and non-Langerhans-cell-type ("non X") (n = 24) cutaneous histiocytoses. NSE was expressed by the majority (70-90%) of histiocytic cells in all cases of Langerhans-cell histiocytoses, whereas it was absent from non-Langerhans-cell histiocytoses. S100 protein was expressed by the majority of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis cells but also by a small percentage (1-5%) of cells in non Langerhans-cell histiocytoses. These results show that NSE is almost as sensitive as, but more specific than, S100 protein in discriminating Langerhans-cell from non-Langerhans cell cutaneous histiocytoses, and that it consequently represents a useful adjunct in the immunohistochemical diagnosis of histiocytic skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Dermatopathology/INSERM U209, Ed. Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanitakis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fantini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pincelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thivolet
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009418:S100 Proteins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase