Altered cytokeratin expression in actinic cheilitis.
BACKGROUND
Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a widely recognized precancerous lesion of the lip. Varying degrees of epithelial dysplasia may be present. However, no studies have correlated epithelial changes with cytokeratin expression that might reflect the disordered maturation that is probably occurring.


METHODS
Thirty-four cases diagnosed as AC were classified according to dysplasia degree, and submitted to immunohistochemical staining for the detection of cytokeratins (CKs) 7, 8, 13, 14, 16 and 19. Normal mucosa adjacent to the lesions was also evaluated.


RESULTS
The results obtained showed that CK10 immunostained only superficial keratinized epithelial layers in 11 cases, and also intermediate spinous layers in 18 cases. Cytokeratin 14 was expressed in all epithelial layers of 31 cases, in two cases its expression was in the basal and intermediate layers, and one case was negative. Cytokeratin 13 immunostained 26 cases and was negative in eight cases. In these eight cases, CK13 was apparently replaced by CK16. Cytokeratin 16, besides these eight cases, was also expressed in the spinous intermediate layers of a further eight cases. The remaining CKs tested were all negative. No relation between the degree of dysplasia and the CK expression was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytokeratin expression in AC is different from that of normal oral mucosa, and is not related to the degree of dysplasia.
dos Santos
Jean N
JN
Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil.
de Sousa
Suzana O M
SO
Nunes
Fábio D
FD
Sotto
Miriam N
MN
de Araújo
Vera C
VC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects
D007633:Keratins