title: Link between immunoexpression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins and clinical-epidemiological aspects of actinic cheilitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The studies found in the literature associate the immunoexpression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins with histologic aspects, but do not correlate it with clinical and epidemiological data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the immunoexpression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 in actinic cheilitis, correlating it with clinical characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 40 cases. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. The following clinical variables were evaluated: gender, age range, ethnicity, clinical aspect and occupational sunlight exposure. Statistical evaluation included the Student t-test, while the significance level was set at 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater immunoexpression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 was observed in females, individuals aged over 40, and mixed-race/black patients. Furthermore, the immunoexpression of these proteins was greater in actinic cheilitis with a white-colored appearance and in patients without occupational sunlight exposure. No statistical differences were observed for the variables studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study uncovered variations of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein expression upon evaluation of clinical aspects in actinic cheilitis.
authors: Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB) - Araruna (PB), Brazil.
authors: Dmitry José de Santana
authors: DJ
authors: Sarmento
authors: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) - Recife (PE), Brazil.
authors: Gustavo Pina
authors: GP
authors: Godoy
authors: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) - Natal (RN), Brazil.
authors: Márcia Cristina da Costa
authors: MC
authors: Miguel
authors: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) - Natal (RN), Brazil.
authors: Éricka Janine Dantas da
authors: ÉJ
authors: Silveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C501486:MLH1 protein, human; C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein