title: Localization of annexins in normal and diseased human skin.
abstract: Annexins (AX) or lipocortins are a family of calcium and phospholipid binding proteins that have been implicated to play a role in the regulation of inflammation and cellular differentiation. To investigate a potential role of AX in skin disorders we studied the distribution of six different AX in normal human skin (NHS) and several inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin diseases. A distinct staining pattern could only be shown for AX-1 and AX-2. In NHS AX-1-antibody (Ab) displayed a very strong reactivity with eccrine sweat ducts. In the diseases investigated we found a highly increased expression of AX-1 in keratinocytes (KCs) in the vicinity of inflammatory processes such as psoriasis. Furthermore, the AX-1 expression was increased in differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) whereas undifferentiated SCC and basal cell carcinoma were negative. AX-3, -4, -5, and -6 showed no distinctive expression pattern. Our data demonstrate an abnormal distribution of AX-1 in association with proliferating KCs under inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Its pattern of reactivity shows similarities to the known distribution of the EGF-receptor kinase, which has been demonstrated to phosphorylate AX-1 with high activity in various cellular systems. These results support the concept that the appearance of AX-1 is linked to a certain level of KC differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Dermatol., University of Würzburg, Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bastian
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: van der Piepen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Römisch
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Pâques
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bröcker
mesh_terms: D017305:Annexin A1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017306:Annexin A2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D017305:Annexin A1; D017306:Annexin A2