Expression of bcl-2 in lichen planus, acute graft-versus-host disease, and erythema multiforme.
The bcl-2 gene family plays a significant role in the propagation of cell survival and tissue modeling. Bcl-2 was originally described in follicular lymphomas and is associated with the suppresion of cellular apoptosis. Evaluation for this protein has been performed for a variety of benign and malignant cutaneous tumors but not to any significant extent on inflammatory disorders. Therefore, we stained biopsy specimens from diseases with interface inflammation (lichen planus, acute graft-versus-host disease, and erythema multiforme) for Bcl-2. Epidermal expression of this protein was minimal for all three diseases; however, lymphocytes stained prominently in lichen planus. The data suggest that Bcl-2 is not prominently involved in the epidermal changes in these diseases. The role of other members of this oncogene family in interface dermatitis still needs to be elucidated.
Boyd
A
A
Division of Dermatology, The Vanderbilt Clinic, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA.
Nanney
L
L
Cameron
G
G
King
L
L
D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000378:metabolism*; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2