title: Proliferation, apoptosis, and survivin expression in a spectrum of melanocytic nevi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apoptosis is important for maintenance of tissue homeostasis and often dysregulated in cutaneous neoplasms. The apoptosis inhibitor survivin is expressed in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers and benign keratinocytic lesions. Its expression has not been studied in melanocytic nevi.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We determined the expression pattern of survivin in benign melanocytic nevi in comparison to markers of proliferation and apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six cases of each of the following melanocytic nevi were retrieved from a dermatopathology archive: compound dysplastic nevus, intradermal nevus, compound nevus, neurotized intradermal nevus, and Spitz nevus. Survivin expression was evaluated by in situ hybridization. Apoptotic and proliferation indices were calculated by counting immunoreactive cells in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling and proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostained sections, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All nevi, regardless of histologic type, expressed survivin. Compound melanocytic lesions expressed survivin in both epidermal and dermal compartments. The apoptotic rate was low for dysplastic, compound, and Spitz nevi, and apoptotic cells were not identified in any neurotized nevus. The proliferative index was highest for Spitz nevi, while all other nevi demonstrated rare positive cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survivin is consistently expressed in benign melanocytic lesions, while apoptotic cells are rarely identified, suggesting the dysregulation of apoptotic pathways with the accumulation of cells in these neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Florell
authors.forename: Anneli R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Adrianne N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Hanks
authors.forename: Kelley J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000077022:Survivin
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin