Related Experiment Videos
p63 expression in normal skin and usual cutaneous carcinomas
Jorge S Reis-Filho1, Beatriz Torio, André Albergaria
1IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Portugal. jreis@ipatimup.pt
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
|October 3, 2002
Summary
p63 protein is consistently found in the basal cells of the epidermis and skin appendages. This protein may play a role in skin differentiation and the development of common skin cancers.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- p63 is a p53 homologue with six isoforms, involved in keratinocyte stem cell maintenance.
- Unlike p53, p63 is not typically associated with tumor predisposition.
- Limited data exists on p63 expression in normal skin and various skin cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate p63 expression in normal skin, basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), keratoacanthomas, and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).
- To investigate the potential role of p63 in skin differentiation and oncogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry using an antibody targeting all p63 isoforms.
- Evaluation of nuclear p63 expression in epidermal cells and skin appendages.
- Semi-quantitative assessment of p63 immunoreactivity in BCCs, keratoacanthomas, and SCCs.
Main Results:
- p63 is expressed in basal cells of the epidermis, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands; absent in terminally differentiated cells.
- BCCs showed strong p63 immunoreactivity (+++).
- SCCs exhibited variable p63 expression, with undifferentiated and in situ SCCs showing higher positivity, while differentiated cells had focal or no expression.
Conclusions:
- p63 is consistently expressed in basal cells of the epidermis and cutaneous appendages.
- p63 likely plays a role in the differentiation patterns and oncogenesis of common skin carcinomas.