[Expression of cyclin D1 and p16 protein in vulvar white lesion].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between cell cycle protein (cyclin D1 and p16) expression and vulvar white lesion.


METHODS
Biopsies from 34 cases with vulvar white lesion, including 12 cases with lichen sclerosus (LS), 18 with squamous hyperplasia (SH) and 4 SH accompanied with LS, were examined for protein expression of cyclin D1 and p16 using immunohistochemical techniques. Normal vulvar tissues from 11 patients with other benign gynecologic diseases were used as control.


RESULTS
Fifty-six percent of patients with vulvar white lesion were immunopositive for cyclin D1 protein, which was significantly higher than that of control group (9%, P < 0.05); but there was no significant difference between LS (58%) and SH patients (50%, P > 0.05) in expression of cyclin D1 protein. Immunopositive expression of p16 protein in patients was 6%, with no significant difference from the control group (0, P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Cyclin D1 and p16 are important factors modulating cell cycle. The interrupt of balance between these two factors derived from abnormal expression of cyclin D1 may be one of the causes of vulvar white lesion.
Li
Guang-tai
GT
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongren Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing 100730, China.
Cao
Jing-hong
JH
Fu
Yu-jing
YJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014844:Vulva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D019938:Cyclin D1