involucrin and Facial-Dermatoses

To delineate the molecular mechanism of transepidermal elimination of dermal elastic materials in elastosis perforans serpiginosa, the interaction between elastin and cultured keratinocytes was studied in vitro. Synthetic elastin peptide VGVAPG elicited chemotactic responses to the cultured keratinocytes at the dose of 10-9 M. Treatment of keratinocytes with 10-6 or 10-5 M elastin peptides resulted in the suppression of cell growth and the increased expression of involucrin and transglutaminase-1, markers of terminal differentiation. When cultured keratinocytes were treated with the elastin peptides, the expression of 67 kDa elastin receptor was increased. The induction of terminal differentiation by elastin peptides was attenuated by the treatment with the combination of anti-67 kDa elastin receptor antibody. The results indicate that elastin is a potent inducer of migration and terminal differentiation of cultured keratinocytes, which is mediated by the 67 kDa elastin receptor. In the lesional skins of patients with elastosis perforans serpiginosa, the 67 kDa elastin receptor was specifically expressed in the epidermis immediately surrounding the elastic materials that were being eliminated. The elastin receptor may be involved in the interaction between keratinocytes and elastin in elastosis perforans serpiginosa.

Topics: Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Movement; Chemotaxis; Connective Tissue Diseases; Elastin; Facial Dermatoses; Humans; Keratinocytes; Protein Precursors; Receptors, Cell Surface; RNA, Messenger; Transglutaminases

The case of a 60-year-old Japanese man with unique multiple keratoacanthomas is reported. The lesions were located in the perioral area, grew peripherally, and healed centrally. Although individual lesions spontaneously regressed, prompt recurrence was observed after excision. Biopsy specimens taken from early proliferative, fully developed, and regressing stages revealed keratoacanthoma. Involucrin was demonstrated in the lesions during development and resolution. The early stage showed homogeneous staining of moderate intensity in the tumor cells at the suprabasal layers, and the staining became slightly irregular and intense when the lesions were fully developed. During resolution the intensity was markedly diminished. These results suggest that preterminal squamous differentiation accelerated during development of the tumors.

Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Facial Dermatoses; Humans; Keratoacanthoma; Male; Middle Aged; Protein Precursors; Recurrence