Expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1alpha-hydroxylase in subcutaneous fat necrosis.
BACKGROUND
The most serious complication of subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN), a rare condition of the newborn characterized by indurated purple nodules, is hypercalcaemia. However, the mechanism for this hypercalcaemia remains unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the hypercalcaemia associated with SCFN involves expression of the vitamin D-activating enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3)-1alpha-hydroxylase (1alpha-hydroxylase) in affected tissue.


METHODS
Skin biopsies from two male patients with SCFN and hypercalcaemia were taken. The histological specimens were assessed using a polyclonal antibody against 1alpha-hydroxylase.


RESULTS
Histology in both cases showed strong expression of 1alpha-hydroxylase protein (brown staining) within the inflammatory infiltrate associated with SCFN. This was consistent with similar experiments in other granulomatous conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypercalcaemia in SCFN appears to be due to abundant levels of 1alpha-hydroxylase in immune infiltrates associated with tissue lesions. This is consistent with previous observations of extrarenal 1alpha-hydroxylase in skin from other granulomatous conditions such as sarcoidosis and slack skin disease.
Farooque
A
A
Department of Endocrinology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UK.
Moss
C
C
Zehnder
D
D
Hewison
M
M
Shaw
N J
NJ
D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005218:Fat Necrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014807:Vitamin D; D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase