title: Differential expression of connective tissue growth factor and extracellular matrix proteins in lichen sclerosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The histopathology of lichen sclerosus (LS) suggests abnormalities in extracellular matrix (ECM) composition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the expression pattern of ECM proteins and related growths factors and Smad signal transducers in LS as compared with healthy skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the expression of decorin, biglycan, versican, perlecan, fibronectin, dermatopontin, extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM-1), matrix metalloproteinase 1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor β1, and Smad-3 protein, real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed on skin specimens obtained from the genital region of healthy subjects (n = 10) as well as LS patients (n = 26).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median mRNA as well as mean protein expression of biglycan, versican, fibronectin, and ECM-1 was significantly higher in LS when compared with healthy controls. Both mRNA and protein CTGF expression observed in LS was significantly higher than in controls. CTGF mRNA expression significantly correlated with mRNA expression of biglycan, versican and fibronectin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of ECM proteins (e.g. proteoglycans, ECM-1) and CTGF is altered in LS. TGF-ß/Smad-3 independent up-regulation of CTGF may induce accumulation of ECM proteins and maintain fibrosis in chronic LS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology Department of Medicine I, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. t.gambichler@klinikum-bochum.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gambichler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skrygan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Czempiel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tigges
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobus
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stücker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altmeyer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreuter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor