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Retinoic-acid receptor beta expression in melanocytes
Nelly Boehm1, Brigitte Samama, Bernard Cribier
1Institut d'Histologie, Faculté de Médecine, 4 rue Kirschleger 67085, Strasbourg, France. Nelly.Boehm@medecine.u-strasbg.fr
European Journal of Dermatology : EJD
|February 18, 2004
Summary
Retinoic acid receptors (RARs) are vital for skin. Melanomas show decreased RARbeta and absent RXRalpha, potentially causing resistance to retinoic acid treatments.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoic X receptors (RXRs) are crucial for maintaining skin homeostasis.
- While RXRalpha and RARgamma are highly expressed in the epidermis, RARbeta expression is typically weak or absent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-examine the in situ expression of RARbeta in normal skin and melanocytic tumors.
- To compare RARbeta expression with RXRalpha localization in these tissues.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization was used to analyze the expression patterns of RARbeta and RXRalpha.
- Normal skin samples and various melanocytic tumors (nevi and melanomas) were examined.
Main Results:
- In normal skin, RXRalpha was found in the epidermis, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles.
- RARbeta was detected in melanocytes and the stratum granulosum of normal skin.
- RXRalpha was absent in all melanocytic tumors, while RARbeta was present in nevi but absent in melanomas.
Conclusions:
- Melanomas are characterized by a simultaneous decrease in RARbeta and the absence of RXRalpha.
- This altered receptor expression may contribute to the retinoic acid resistance observed in most melanoma cell lines.