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Defective Expression of a Desmosome‐related Keratinocyte Membrane Antigen in Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Author(s) -
Haftek Marek,
Meissner Kurt,
Viac Jacqueline,
Thivolet Jean
Publication year - 1988
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.1346-8138.1988.tb04073.x
Subject(s) - desmosome , immunogold labelling , neoplastic transformation , keratinocyte , antigen , biology , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , monoclonal antibody , pathology , chemistry , antibody , cancer , immunology , carcinogenesis , biochemistry , in vitro , medicine , genetics
Intercellular junctions of keratinocytes are essential for coordination of the epithelial tissue function. Neoplastic transformation is often accompanied by changes in the glycolipid and glycoprotein composition of the cell membranes, although no evident structural modifications can be observed. We have investigated one aspect of the keratinocyte cell‐cell contact in squamous cell carcinoma using KM48 monoclonal antibody as a differentiation‐related marker for desmosomes. Quantitative analysis of the immunogold labelling revealed that the tumor cells lose the KM48 antigen during their neoplastic transformation. The process could also be observed, although to a lesser degree, in clinically and ultrastructurally normal marginal epidermis. The desmosome frequency in the tumor tissue also decreased, but not as radically as did the KM48 expression. Decreased expression of the desmosome‐related membrane antigen suggests qualitative and perhaps functional modifications of the junction in squamous cell carcinoma.