title: Comparative analysis of the expression of involucrin, filaggrin and cytokeratin 4, 10, 16 in cholesteatoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine whether the hyperproliferative and hyperkeratotic characters of cholesteatoma are associated with differentiation of keratinocytes in cholesteatoma by examining the localization of marker proteins, such as involucrin, filaggrin, and cytokeratins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical study was carried out in 30 cholesteatoma tissues and 10 retroauricular skins to examine the expression of involucrin, filaggrin, cytokeratin 4, 10 and 16. The staining results were graded as negative, weakly positive (<10%), moderately positive (10-70%), and strongly positive (>70%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Involucrin was strongly expressed in upper spinous, granular, and corneal layer of cholesteatoma. Filaggrin was strongly expressed in granular and corneal layer of cholesteatoma. Cytokeratin 4 was expressed in basal layer of retroauricular skin, but occasionally expressed in suprabasal layer of cholesteatoma. Cytokeratin 10 was homogenously expressed in all suprabasal layer of retroauricular skin, whereas pattern of shift to surface layer was showed in cholesteatoma. Cytokeratin 16 was moderately expressed at suprabasal layer in cholesteatoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be suggested that early differentiation of suprabasal layer may lead to hyperdifferentiation and hyperkeratosis. Different expression of cytokeratins possibly indicates the altered differentiation of cholesteatoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Rae
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Cholesteatoma; Cytokeratin 4, 10, 16; Filaggrin; Involucrin