Expression of lamins depends on epidermal differentiation and transformation.
BACKGROUND
It has been suggested that A- and B-type lamins, proteins of the nuclear lamina, play important roles in the morphogenesis of the nucleus and cellular differentiation.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of these nuclear proteins in normal skin and some keratinocytic tumours of the skin.


METHODS
We examined by means of immunohistochemistry the expression of lamins in normal skin and some keratinocytic tumours of the skin, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), Bowen's disease, solar keratosis, keratoacanthoma and seborrhoeic keratosis.


RESULTS
In normal skin, A-type lamin was expressed in all epidermal cells, but the expression level of B-type lamins diminished from basal cells to granular cells. In keratinocytic tumours, the expression of A-type lamin was reduced, especially in BCCs, Bowen's disease and poorly differentiated SCCs. B-type lamins were reduced and exhibited heterogeneous expression patterns in most well-differentiated SCCs and keratoacanthomas. Antibodies against B-type lamins stained only peripheral cells of the lobules in keratoacanthomas, while no regular staining patterns were seen in well-differentiated SCCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Lamin expression depends on the differentiation and transformation of the human skin. This finding should be useful for the diagnosis of keratinocytic tumours.
Oguchi
M
M
Departments of Dermatology and Molecular Oncology and Angiology, Research Center on Aging and Adaptation, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.
Sagara
J
J
Matsumoto
K
K
Saida
T
T
Taniguchi
S
S
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007636:Keratoacanthoma / Q000378:metabolism; D007642:Keratosis / Q000378:metabolism; D034882:Lamins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D034882:Lamins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins