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Localization of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) in Granulomas of Sarcoidosis Cutaneous Lesions
Author(s) -
Takemura Satoshi,
Fujioka Akira,
Yasui Yumiko,
Baba Shunichi,
Suzuki Hiroyuki
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1987.tb03544.x
Subject(s) - sarcoidosis , granuloma annulare , epithelioid cell , cutaneous sarcoidosis , granuloma , pathology , medicine , langhans giant cell , giant cell , angiotensin converting enzyme , immunohistochemistry , blood pressure
Using an immunofluorescent technique, the localization of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was investigated in granuloma lesions from the skin of three sarcoidosis cases. Specific fluorescence was observed in epithelioid cells in the sarcoidosis granulomas examined. However, it was not found in any other granulomatous diseases observed as controls, which included granuloma annulare, foreign body granuloma and lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei. These results indicate that ACE is specifically localized in the epithelioid cells in cutaneous granuloma lesions of sarcoidosis; in one case, it was also observed in Langhans giant cells. Therefore, it is suggested that examination for ACE in cutaneous lesions using an immunofluorescent technique is very useful for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis in the skin. We suggest that epithelioid cells of granulomas in sarcoidosis cutaneous lesions may play an important role in the increase of serum ACE activity.