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Updated: Oct 3, 2026

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
[Expression of gene K51 in normal epidermis and various epithelial skin tumors in man]
Abstract:
The expression of gene K51 in the cells of human normal epidermis and epithelial skin tumors was investigated using in situ hybridization method with radioactive probe. The K51 gene transcripts were detected in the epidermis, sebaceous and sweat glands of human embryo and adult skin. The level of gene expression was higher in the stratum granulosum than in the basal layer of the skin. K51 gene expression was also found in the basal cell and metatypical carcinomas, with the level of expression lower than in the neighbouring epidermis and higher than in the surrounding skin stromal cells. Thus, K51 gene is expressed in the skin epidermis of human embryo and adults but the level of its activity is dramatically decreased in the cells of skin epithelial tumors. This potentially may be important as a diagnostic test.
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