title: Fas (CD95) and bcl-2 expression in active skin lesions of Behçet's disease.
abstract: Over-expression of bcl-2 in lymphocytes has an important role in some immunological and inflammatory diseases. Fas (CD95) is a cell surface molecule that mediates receptor-triggered apoptosis in various cells including autoreactive T cells. In this study we investigated bcl-2 and Fas (CD95) expression in dermal lymphocytes in active skin lesions of Behçet's disease (BD) and in skin biopsy samples with chronic, non-specific inflammations. Tissue sections of 29 skin lesions of Behçet's disease and of 10 chronic non-specific inflammatory process cases from the archives of the Ondokuz Mayis University's Pathology Department were immunohistochemically stained for bcl-2 and Fas (CD95), and lymphocytes in the dermal infiltrate were evaluated for cytoplasmic staining. bcl-2 staining was observed in the skin lesions of 22 cases (75.8%) of Behçet's disease. bcl-2 staining was detected in two (20%) control skin biopsy samples with non-specific chronic inflammation. Fas (CD95) positivity was not detected in lymphocytes in Behçet's disease-related skin lesions. Fas (CD95) staining was observed in only three skin biopsy samples with non-specific chronic inflammation. bcl-2 and Fas (CD95) staining values in Behçet's and non-specific inflammation groups were significantly different (P < 0.01); differences in the bcl-2 staining values between Behçet's patients with mucocutaneous involvement only and mucocutaneous and other systemic involvements were not significant (P > 0.05). Expression of bcl-2 and loss of Fas (CD95) expression in dermal lymphocytes may play a role in the development of skin lesions and may account for the chronic course with periodic exacerbations in BD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Kurupelit/Samsun, Turkey. sanacarbaris@omu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Bariş
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sentürk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kandemir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor