title: Immunohistochemical characterization of keratin expression in clear cell acanthoma.
abstract: The nature of clear cell acanthoma has not been clarified, although many hypotheses have been proposed, including a benign neoplasm derived from epidermis or the acrosyringium, or a non-specific dermatosis. In this study, seven cases of clear cell acanthoma were analysed by immunohistochemical techniques, using various monoclonal antikeratin antibodies, and antibodies against filaggrin, involucrin and epithelial membrane antigen. Different immunoreactivities were noted between clear cell acanthoma and a normal eccrine gland, including the acrosyringium. Immunoreactivities of clear cell acanthoma were almost identical to those of normal epidermis, although some antibodies gave a different staining pattern between clear cell acanthoma and normal epidermis. The expression of cytokeratins in psoriatic epidermis has been reported to change as a result of abnormal differentiation or maturation. Clear cell acanthoma showed a similar staining pattern to inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis vulgaris, lichen planus and discoid lupus erythematosus. We speculate that clear cell acanthoma is a localized form of inflammatory dermatosis rather than a neoplasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004817:Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C000717249:FLG protein, human; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; D011498:Protein Precursors; C032253:involucrin; D007633:Keratins