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The temporal and spatial distribution of p21 WAF expression in skin appendages
Author(s) -
Wu YY.,
Takata M.,
Rehman I.,
Rees J.L.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03414.x
Subject(s) - biology , epidermis (zoology) , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy
p21 WAF is a cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor which is widely expressed in epidermal structures. Using a combination of double immunocytochemical staining and combined in situ hybridization, we show that there is a striking exclusivity between the expression of Ki67 and p21 WAF in the hair matrix. Some cells that are Ki67‐positive also express p53, but as they exit the cell cycle they assume p21 WAF ‐positive/p53‐negative status. By contrast, cells in the interfollicular epidermis of psoriatic lesions, in the sebaceous gland, and in the outer root sheath are p21 WAF ‐positive/p53‐positive but Ki67‐negative. These results suggest that in some anatomical parts of the epidermis, p21 WAF expression can accompany p53 expression, whereas in other parts, the expression of these markers is reciprocal, suggesting that other pathways may be controlling p21 WAF expression. In order to define, functionally, the presence of p53‐independent p21 WAF expression in skin, we examined lesions of Bowen’s disease in which both alleles of p53 were inactivated. p21 WAF expression was still observed, confirming a role for p53‐independent expression of p21 WAF in human skin in vivo .