Expression of estrogen receptor beta in normal skin, melanocytic nevi and malignant melanomas.
Sex hormones are known to be associated with increases of melanocytes and melanin production in human skin. However, the expression of estrogen receptor (ERalpha) in melanocytic lesions has been controversial. In 1996, a new subset of estrogen receptor was cloned, and named estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). We used immunohistochemical staining to characterize the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in normal skin and in melanocytic lesions. Normal sebaceous glands and hair follicles were positive for ERalpha and ERbeta. Other adnexal structures and constituents in the skin were positive for ERbeta, but not for ERalpha. Melanocytic nevi and malignant melanomas were negative for ERalpha, but both were positive for ERbeta. The ubiquitous expression of ERbeta may play a fundamental role in various normal skin cells and melanocytic tumors.
Ohata
Chika
C
Department of Dermatology, Course of Molecular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. bboohay02@ybb.ne.jp
Tadokoro
Taketsugu
T
Itami
Satoshi
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta