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Differentiation and apoptosis in pilomatrixoma.
Toshiyuki Ishige1, Kentaro Kikuchi, Yuji Miyazaki
1Department of Pathology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
The American Journal of Dermatopathology
|January 18, 2011
Summary
This study investigated pilomatrixoma, a benign skin tumor, revealing that hair keratin production and apoptosis occur simultaneously. Irregular β-catenin and Lef-1 expression contribute to tumor features like amorphous debris and cyst formation.
Area of Science:
- Dermatopathology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Pilomatrixoma is a benign skin tumor.
- Understanding its histopathology, apoptosis, and hair differentiation is crucial for explaining tumor characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the histopathology of pilomatrixoma.
- To examine apoptosis and hair differentiation in pilomatrixoma.
- To elucidate the mechanisms behind amorphous debris and cyst formation in pilomatrixoma.
Main Methods:
- Histopathologic examination of 16 pilomatrixoma cases.
- Immunohistochemical analysis for β-catenin, Lef-1, and hair keratins.
- Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay for apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Amorphous debris and cyst formation were observed in all cases.
- β-catenin and Lef-1 showed differential expression in tumor cells.
- Hair keratin expression was detected in transitional and shadow cells, but not amorphous debris.
- Apoptosis was identified in transitional and some shadow cells.
Conclusions:
- Hair keratin production and apoptosis are concurrent events in pilomatrixoma.
- Aberrant expression of β-catenin and Lef-1, unlike in normal hair follicles, leads to amorphous debris and cyst formation.
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