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The expression of low molecular weight keratins in basal cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Leigh Irene M.,
Purkis P.E.,
Lane E.B.
Publication year - 1985
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1985.tb13005.x
Subject(s) - basal cell carcinoma , keratin , basal (medicine) , expression (computer science) , biology , carcinoma , pathology , basal cell , medicine , cancer research , endocrinology , computer science , insulin , programming language
Monoclonal antibodies to keratin filament proteins can be used as markers of differentiation within the skin. Two major cell groups can be detected in the interfollicular skin—namely basal and suprabasal compartments. Within the hair follicle small subpopulations of cells stain with simple epithelial antibodies; in particular, the inner hair root sheath and a small zone of upper hair follicle cells. Previous biochemical studies suggested that basal cell carcinomas derive from the hair follicle. We have studied a series of basal cell carcinomas ( n = 2o) using (1) SDS gel electrophoresis and (2) immunocytochemistry, using a large panel of monoclonal antibodies including peptide‐specific monoclonal antibodies (LE61 to keratin 18; LE41 to keratin 8 and LP2K to keratin 19). Biochemically, tumour cells failed to express high molecular weight (MW) keratins but variable expression of low MW keratins. Immunocytochemistry showed (a) failure to express suprabasal differentiation (LHP 1 , LHP 2 , LHP 3 ); (b) invariable expression of interfollicular basal antigens; and (c) occasional expression of simple epithelial antibodies only. There was no evidence to suggest that basal cell carcinoma cells originate from hair follicle cells.