Korean J Dermatol.  1997 Oct;35(5):863-869.

Immunohistochemical Study on Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-betas in Keratoacanthoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Kwon KS
• Lee HT
• Jang HS
• Chung TA
• Oh CK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Because of the clinical and histological similarities of keratoacanthoma(KA) and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC), it is often difficult to differentiate. Transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-betas) are the multifunctional peptides that regulate the cellular growth and differentiation. It has been known that the isoforms of TGF-beta(TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3) are differently expressed in human cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, etc.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the expression patterns of TGF-beta isoforms on KA and SCC using the immunohistochemical staining method with anti-TGF-betas antibodies and to evaluate the usefulness of this method in distinguishing each other.
METHODS
We performed immunoperoxidase staining(LSAB technique) using polyclonal anti-TGF-beta1, b2, and b3 antibodies from the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens obtained from 11 patients with KA, 11 pntients with SCC, and 10 healthy volunteers.
RESULTS
In the normal skins, TGF-beta1, b2 and b3 were almost negative or only weakly positive in the epidermis, whereas TGF-beta3 was moderately to strongly positive in the suprabasal layer. In KAs, the expression patterns of TGF-beta1, b2, and b3 were similar to those of the normal skins. In SCCs, however, the expression of TGF-beta1 was increased and TGF-beta3 was decreased compared with the normal skins.
CONCLUSION
In these results, the immunohistochemical staining using the anti-TGF-betas antibodies, especially anti-TGF-beta1 and b3, can be used for the differentiation of KA and SCC. Also, it can be suggested that the charige of expressions of TGF-beta isoforms in the epidermis may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of SCC.

Keyword

Keratoacanthoma; Squamous cell carcinoma; TGF-beta

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Biopsy
Carcinogenesis
Carcinoma, Basal Cell
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Epidermis
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Keratoacanthoma*
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Peptides
Protein Isoforms
Skin
Thyroid Neoplasms
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Transforming Growth Factor beta2
Transforming Growth Factor beta3
Antibodies
Peptides
Protein Isoforms
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Transforming Growth Factor beta2
Transforming Growth Factor beta3