BACKGROUND: Pemphigus foliaceus(PF) and pemphigus vulgaris(PV) have different target antigens which belong to the desmoglein(DG) subfamily of the desmosomal cadherins; DG in the case of PF and PV antigen(PVA) in the case of PV. OBJECTIVE: Because DG is also a normal major component of the intercellular adhesive core, we investigated the immunohistochemical distribution of DG in PF to compare and contrast the findings with those of PV. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis using streptavidin-biotin complex method with anti-DG monoclonal antibody was done in six cases of PF and six cases of PV, as well as two samples of normal skin as control. RESULTS: Both disorders showed abnormal intense diffuse cytoplasmic staining patterns in the lesional skin. Contrary to PF, showing complete loss of normal, rim-like, membranous staining, two of six cases of PV showed the relatively well preserved normal staining pat-terns in the upper epidermis. CONCLUSION: The differences in the expression of DG in the lesional skins between PF and PV suggest that PVA is distinct from DG, although an overlapping of antigens between PF and PV could exist.
Adhesives ; Cytoplasm ; Desmogleins* ; Desmosomal Cadherins ; Epidermis ; Methods ; Pemphigus* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Desmogleins are transmembrane glycoproteins of the desmosome which provide mechanical strength to epithelial tissue. Desmogleins have so far, been implicated in several diseases such as pemphigus, striate palmoplantar keratoderma, 4S and squamous cell carcinomas. Skin cancer usually occurs in old age. And there are reports that the expression of desmogleins are increased in squamous cell carcinoma. However the role of desmogleins in skin aging has not yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of desmoglein 1 and 3 according to chronologic skin aging. METHODS: A total of 6 normal tissue samples from sun-protected skin of different age groups (from 34-year-old to an 84-year-old) and 1 squamous cell carcinoma tissue from a 72-year-old patient were taken. Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining were performed with anti desmoglein 1 and 3 antibodies. The expression of desmoglein 1 and 3 by Western blotting were calculated semiquantitatively by a densitometer. RESULTS: The expression of desmoglein 1 was 0.382 in the 34-year-old, 0.450 in the 45-year-old, 0.369 in the 56-year-old, 0.761 in the 65-year-old, 1.035 in the 77-year-old and 1.329 ODu/mm2 in the 84-year-old. The expression of desmoglein 3 was 0.830 in the 34-year-old, 0.984 in the 45-year-old, 1.029 in the 56-year-old, 1.534 in the 65-year-old, 1.714 in the 77-year-old and 1.878 ODu/mm2 in the 84-year-old. In immunohistochemical staining, the expression of Dsg1 increased from the basal layer to the granular layer and Dsg3 was expressed in the basal and suprabasal layers. CONCLUSION: The expression of desmoglein 1 and 3 were increased according to chronologic skin aging.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Desmoglein 1* ; Desmoglein 3 ; Desmogleins* ; Desmosomes ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigus ; Skin Aging* ; Skin Neoplasms ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Antibodies ; Desmoglein 1 ; Desmogleins ; Pemphigus

Pemphigus represents a group of autoimmune blistering diseases caused by autoantibodies against desmogleins (Dsgs), a class of desmosomal cadherins. Recently, several pemphigus patients only with desmocollin (Dsc) 3-specific antibodies have been reported. Here, we report a case of pemphigus herpetiformis (PH), where only anti-Dsc3-specific antibodies but not anti-Dsg antibodies were detected. A 76-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of blister formation. Physical examination revealed pruritic erythemas with vesicles on the trunk and legs, but no lesions of the oral mucosa. A skin biopsy specimen revealed intraepidermal blister containing neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes. Direct immunofluorescence (IF) showed immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement 3 (C3) depositions on the keratinocyte cell surfaces. Indirect IF showed IgG anti-keratinocyte cell surface antibodies. These findings hinted at a diagnosis of pemphigus. However, repeated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for both anti-Dsg1 and 3 antibodies proved to be negative. Immunoblotting of normal human epidermal extracts revealed Dsc antibodies, and recently established ELISAs using human Dsc1-Dsc3 recombinantly expressed in mammalian cells detected anti-Dsc3 antibodies. Based on these clinical, histopathological, and immunological findings, the patient was diagnosed as PH with only anti-Dsc3 antibodies. Treatment with corticosteroid prednisolone and steroid-sparing agent dapsone accomplished complete clinical remission of the patient.
Aged ; Antibodies* ; Autoantibodies ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Complement C3 ; Dapsone ; Desmogleins ; Desmosomal Cadherins ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Erythema ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Keratinocytes ; Leg ; Lymphocytes ; Mouth Mucosa ; Neutrophils ; Pemphigus* ; Physical Examination ; Prednisolone ; Skin

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the levels of antidesmoglein (DSG) 1, 3 antibodies in the sera of patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) and alopecia.

METHODSSera from PNP patients, bullous pemphigoid patients, and normal healthy subjects were collected and 2 tissue samples from 2 healthy scalps were resected. Anti-DSG 1, 3 antibodies in the sera of PNP patients were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Indirect immunofluorescent assay was used to detect whether the antibodies in the sera of PNP patients binds with the follicular epithelium of normal healthy scalp.

RESULTSAnti-DSG3 autoantibody was strongly positive and anti-DSG1 weakly positive in one patient, while both two antibodies were negative in the other patient. Their sera could bind to keratinocytes and follicular epithelium in human scalp. Immunofluorescent signals were found on the intercellular epidermal cell surface and outer root sheath of the follicular epithelium. However, the immunofluorescent signals in the section incubating with serum of bullous pemphigoid were only found on basal membrane zone. No signals were found in the section incubating with normal healthy serum.

CONCLUSIONAlopecia in PNP patients are correlated with the anti-DSG3.

Adult ; Alopecia ; etiology ; immunology ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Desmoglein 1 ; immunology ; Desmoglein 3 ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; complications ; immunology ; Pemphigus ; complications ; immunology

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of HPV-16 E6 expression on the transcription of cellular genes, we used cDNA microarray in HPV-16 E6 transfected stable cancer cell lines. METHODS: Using cDNA microarray consisting of 1,024 genes, we have performed a systematic characterization of gene expression in A549E6 human lung adenocarcinoma and RC10.1 human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines stably expressing HPV-16 E6 gene. The up-regulated and down-regulated genes were classified into the different functional categories; oncogenes, apoptosis, cell cycle, signal transduction, gene regulation, immune response, cell adhesion, protein transport, metabolism, redox control and angiogenesis. RESULTS: Among 1,024 known genes and ESTs (expressed sequence tags) tested, we found 27 up- regulated and 43 down-regulated genes in A549E6 (HPV-16 E6) compared to A549. The major up-regulated genes were as follows. GTPase-activating protein Rho 4, transcription factor D2, IKAROS, integrin-alpha 6, cadherin 11, ephrin-beta 2, RAN binding protein 2, branched-chain amino transferase 2. The major down-regulated genes were as follows. K-ras 2, CDC (cell division cycle) 37, CDC16, CDC7L1, IRF3, interferon-gamma-inducible protein 30, cadherin 6, desmoglein 1, desmocollin 2, endothelin 2. Also, we found 48 up-regulated and 34 down-regulated genes in RC10.1 (HPV-16 E6) compared to RKO. The major up-regulated genes were as follows. Colon cancer familial nonpolyposis type 1 (COCA 1), Bcl 2, jagged 1, MAP2K6, E2F1, ephrin receptor-beta 2, ephrin-beta 2, desmoglein 1, transforming growth factor-beta 3. The major down-regulated genes were as follows. KIT, Rad51C, Bcl 2 antagonist killer 1, STAT 4, epidermal growth factor receptor, high mobility group protein 2, cadherin 11, cadherin 12, cadherin 3, integrin-alpha 1, intergrin-alpha 8, chromosome segregation 1-like. CONCLUSION: Various expression patterns of cellular genes by HPV-16 E6 could be wholy grasped and classified into different functional groups using both cell line system stably expressed HPV-16 E6 and cDNA microarray analysis. These analysis methods must be helpful to understand multiple effects of a specific gene on cellular genes in a short period.
Adenocarcinoma ; Apoptosis ; Cadherins ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Chromosome Segregation ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Desmoglein 1 ; DNA, Complementary* ; Endothelin-2 ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression* ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; Hand Strength ; Human papillomavirus 16* ; Humans ; Lung ; Metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Oncogenes ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Protein Transport ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; Transferases

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic association of the FAT gene with schizophrenia in the Korean population, as well as analyzing the association of FAT gene with clinical variables. METHODS: Four variants within the FAT gene were investigated in 189 patients with schizophrenia and 119 healthy controls (rs2306987 A/C, rs2306990 T/C, rs2637777 G/T, and rs2304865 G/C). RESULTS: Significant association at the rs273777 with schizophrenia was observed; however, rs2306987, rs2306990, and rs2304865 were not associated with schizophrenia. Haplotype analyses revealed that the haplotype A/T/T/G was associated with a significantly protective effect. Sliding window analysis (rs2637777 G/T and rs2304865 G/C) revealed the more common T/G haplotype, included in the A/T/T/G protective combination, showed a small protective effect, in particular the effect was due to the rs273777 T variant (minor allele). CONCLUSION: The present finding suggests that FAT polymorphism may play a putative role in the susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Korean population. Further studies using a larger number of subjects should be performed to determine whether the FAT gene polymorphism may be truly involved in the development of schizophrenia.
Cadherins ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Schizophrenia

No abstract available.
Cadherins* ; Carcinogenesis* ; Urinary Bladder*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of E-cadherin in benign, borderline, and malignant ovarian tumors. METHODS: An immunohistochemical technique was applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 20 benign cystic ovarian tumors, 14 borderline ovarian tumors and 13 ovarian carcinomas. Expressions of E-cadherin immunostaining in three histological types were compared, and the survival rate in malignant ovarian cancer according to E-cadherin expression was also assessed. RESULTS: E-cadherin was positively or heterogeneously expressed in both benign and borderline ovarian tumors. But it was negatively, heterogeneously, or positively expressed in malignant ovarian tumors. The difference of expression of E-cadherin between borderline and malignant ovarian tumors was statisticaIly significant (p<0.05). In ovarian carcinoma, there was difference between negative and positive group in survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that alterations in E-cadherin seem to occur at a later stage of the ovarian carcinogenesis, and may have some prognostic value in malignant ovarian tumor.
Cadherins* ; Carcinogenesis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

The usefulness of E-cadherin immunostaining as a marker of malignancy in the body fluids was investigated in the present study. Thirty-three histologically proven cases of cell blocks from the pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial fluids were studied by immunocytochemistry for E-cadherin antibody using LSAB method. These cases were cytologically diagnosed as adenocarcinoma (25 cases) and atypical cells (8 cases). Tumor cells showed strong positive membranous staining for E-cadherin antibody in 21 out of 25 cases (84%) of adenocarcinoma. E-cadherin staining was not found in 6 of 8 cases of suspicious maligancy. The sensitivity and specificity were 84% and 75%, respectively. Reactive mesothelial cells and inflammatory cells scattered were all negative. In conclusion, E-cadherin is an useful adjunctive marker to distinguish reactive mesothelial cells from the carcinoma cells in the body fluids.
Adenocarcinoma ; Body Fluids ; Cadherins* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Sensitivity and Specificity