title: Expression of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in keratoacanthomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin.
abstract: The complex biological trait 'susceptibility to apoptosis' is a nosological feature distinguishing squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) from keratoacanthomas (KA). The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a major effector of the caspase-independent apoptosis pathway, in formalin-fixed SCC (N = 23) and KA (N = 29) resection specimens. SCC express statistically significant more AIF than KA both as proportion of AIF+ cells by immunohistochemistry (median: 54% vs 33%; P < 0.01) and as total AIF protein content by western blot quantification (six-fold increased; P < 0.01). However, the contribution of AIF to apoptosis, measured as fraction of apoptotic nuclei with overt DNA fragmentation by the TUNEL method that co-express AIF translocated to nucleus, is significantly less prevalent among SCC (median: 19% vs 48% in KA; P < 0.01). These findings indicate to a distinctive involvement of AIF in the progression of certain epithelial skin tumors that might be exploited as a promising treatment target.
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skyrlas
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hantschke
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Passa
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaitanis
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Malamou-Mitsi
authors.forename: Ioannis D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Bassukas
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007636:Keratoacanthoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor