Expression of fibrogenic cytokines in desmoplastic malignant melanoma.
Desmoplastic malignant melanoma (DMM) consists of amelanotic spindle-shaped melanoma cells and is accompanied by desmoplasia with fibrous stromata. It has a strong tendency for local infiltrative growth and recurrence and a propensity for neurotropism. It is not yet known which cytokine is responsible for the desmoplasia in DMM. In the present study, we investigated the roles of several fibrogenic cytokines and cytokine receptors in DMM: basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and PDGF receptors. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization were conducted in four cases of DMM and four cases of amelanotic malignant melanoma (AMM) as negative controls for desmoplasia. PDGF-beta receptor, bFGF and CTGF were intensely expressed in the DMM specimens in comparison with the AMM specimens. The reaction of PDGF-B ligand and CTGF to PDGF-beta receptor, in addition to the expression of bFGF, may contribute to the desmoplasia in DMM.
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. kubo-der@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
M
M
Kubo
K
K
Kikuchi
K
K
Nashiro
T
T
Kakinuma
N
N
Hayashi
H
H
Nanko
K
K
Tamaki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D006133:Growth Substances; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor