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Apoptosis in primary cutaneous amyloidosis
Y T Chang1, C K Wong, K C Chow
1Department of Dermatology, Veterans General Hospital, Shih-Pai, Taipei, Taiwan.
The British Journal of Dermatology
|March 25, 2000
Summary
Primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) involves keratinocyte death, potentially through apoptosis. This programmed cell death may initiate the amyloid deposit formation seen in PCA.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) involves amyloid deposits, possibly originating from cytokeratin after keratinocyte death.
- The precise mechanism of keratinocyte death in PCA pathogenesis remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of apoptosis in the development of primary cutaneous amyloidosis.
- To identify potential markers of keratinocyte apoptosis in PCA skin tissues.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 20 Chinese patients with PCA.
- Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay for detecting apoptosis.
- Immunohistochemical staining for B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 gene (bcl-2) and Fas expression.
Main Results:
- Apoptotic cells were detected in 55% of PCA cases using the TUNEL method.
- Dyskeratotic cells and vacuolar basal cell alterations were more frequent in TUNEL-positive PCA.
- Epidermal bcl-2 expression was minimal, and Fas expression on keratinocytes did not differ from normal skin.
Conclusions:
- Keratinocyte apoptosis may be an initial event in primary cutaneous amyloidosis pathogenesis.
- Apoptosis-induced keratinocyte destruction could lead to subsequent amyloid formation.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of keratinocyte death in PCA.