Korean J Dermatol.  2011 Apr;49(4):334-338.

Immunohistochemical Study of the Expression of Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 (AEG-1) in Malignant Melanoma, Spitz Nevus and Dysplastic Nevus

• Kim BC
• Seung NR
• Park EJ
• Kwon IH
• Kim KH
• Kim KJ
• Park HR

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was cloned as a novel HIV-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced transcript from primary human fetal astrocytes. It has been reported that the AEG-1 expression is elevated in subsets of breast cancer, glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma cells, and AEG-1 cooperates with Ha-ras to promote the transformation of immortalized melanocytes. AEG-1 is thought to play a role in promoting cancer development and/or its maintenance.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to determine whether AEG-1 is related to the pathogenesis of melanoma and other melanocytic lesions.
METHODS
The nine biopsy specimens each of melanoma, dysplastic nevus, Spitz nevus and compound nevus were studied using immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of AEG-1 were evaluated using an immunostaining-intensity-distribution index.
RESULTS
The expression of AEG-1 was significantly higher in the melanoma and dysplastic nevus than in the compound nevus. The expression was also significantly higher in the melanoma than in the Spitz nevus.
CONCLUSION
AEG-1 may be related to the pathogenesis of both dysplastic nevus and melanoma, but it may not be related to Spitz nevus.

Keyword

Astrocyte elevated gene-1; Dysplastic nevus; Malignant melanoma; Spitz nevus

MeSH Terms

Astrocytes
Biopsy
Breast Neoplasms
Clone Cells
Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome
Glioblastoma
HIV-1
Humans
Melanocytes
Melanoma
Necrosis
Nevus
Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell