title: Altered expression of beta-2-microglobulin in basaloid proliferations overlying dermatofibromas.
abstract: The epidermis overlying 2-8% of dermatofibromas shows basaloid proliferations that are indistinguishable from superficial basal cell carcinoma. It is well established that basal cell carcinomas uniformly exhibit a strongly reduced expression of HLA class I molecules. Nineteen dermatofibromas with overlying basaloid proliferations were studied by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against beta-2-microglobulin, the invariant chain of the HLA class I molecule. The basaloid proliferations exhibited the same strong reduction in expression of beta-2-microglobulin as demonstrated in basal cell carcinomas. We suggest that this phenomenon may represent a proliferative change induced by the mesenchymal cells of the underlying dermatofibroma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rossen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hou-Jensen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Werdelin
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology*; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin