title: Effect of laser resurfacing on p53 expression in photoaged facial skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  p53 overexpression has been reported in photoaged skin. Meanwhile, p53 gene mutations have been implicated as an important factor in the pathogenesis of ultraviolet (UV) light-induced skin cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to evaluate the effect of laser resurfacing on the epidermal thickness and expression of p53 in photoaged skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens were obtained from the facial skin of 10 patients before and after 3 months and 1 year of treatment using CO(2) (five cases) and erbium (Er):YAG (five cases) lasers. Specimens were also obtained from six age-matched controls. These biopsies were used for routine histopathology, histometry, and p53 immunoperoxidase staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both CO(2) and Er:YAG lasers were found to induce a significant decrease in p53 expression in biopsies obtained after 3 months (p=.0004 and .002, respectively) followed by gradual increase (p=.01 in both groups). A significant increase (p<.01) in epidermal thickness was also observed after 1 year of resurfacing. This increase, however, is inversely correlated with the level of p53 expression in such patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in epidermal p53 expression after CO(2) and Er:YAG lasers may account for some of the benefits of resurfacing on the epidermis, as well as prevention of actinic neoplasia by adjusting any disturbance in the proliferation/apoptosis balance observed in photoaged facial skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Minya University Hospital, Al-Minya, Egypt. moetazeldomyati@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Moetaz M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: El-Domyati
authors.forename: Sameh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Ashraf M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Esmat
authors.forename: Hesham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Hossam M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Abdel Wahab
authors.forename: Belkais M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Badr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53