Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
05:44
Skin Biopsy for Diagnosing Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: June 10, 2025
233
Demodex Infestation in Discoid Lupus Erythematosus: A Histopathologic Study
Gülhan Aksoy Saraç1, Selma Emre2, Merve Kaya1
1Department of Dermatology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
The American Journal of Dermatopathology
|July 3, 2025
Summary
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) shows a 36.5% prevalence of Demodex mite infestation, particularly on the face. While not directly causing DLE, mites may be secondarily associated with the condition.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Parasitology
- Immunology
Background:
- Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic autoimmune skin condition.
- DLE presents as inflammatory plaques leading to scarring and hair loss.
- A potential link between Demodex mites and DLE pathogenesis is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Demodex mite infestation in DLE patients.
- To explore the potential role of Demodex mites in DLE pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Assessment of 85 histopathologically and clinically confirmed DLE patients.
- Collection of clinical and histopathologic data.
- Evaluation of biopsy specimens for Demodex mite presence using hematoxylin-eosin staining.
Main Results:
- Demodex mites were detected in 36.5% of DLE patients.
- Infestation was significantly more common on the face (47.1%) than the scalp (16.7%).
- No significant association found between Demodex positivity and patient age, sex, or histopathologic findings.
Conclusions:
- Demodex mites may not directly cause DLE.
- Increased mite prevalence on facial lesions suggests a secondary association.
- Further research is needed to clarify the impact of Demodex on DLE progression and treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Genetic Lingo
Overview
01:33Pleiotropy
Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
01:43Incomplete Dominance
Gregor Mendel's work (1822 - 1884) was primarily focused on pea plants. Through his initial experiments, he determined that every gene in a diploid cell has two variants called alleles inherited from each parent. He suggested that amongst these two alleles, one allele is dominant in character and the other recessive. The combination of alleles determines the phenotype of a gene in an organism.
02:32Exon Recombination
The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes.
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
01:05Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...