Expression of p73 in normal skin and proliferative skin lesions

• Published in: Pathology international 2004-12, Vol.54 (12), p.890-895
• Main Authors: Kamiya, Makoto, Takeuchi, Yuko, Katho, Mari, Yokoo, Hideaki, Sasaki, Atsushi, Nakazato, Yoichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; carcinogenesis; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - pathology; Cell Proliferation; differentiation; DNA-Binding Proteins - biosynthesis; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratosis, Seborrheic - metabolism; Keratosis, Seborrheic - pathology; Ki-67 Antigen - metabolism; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell - pathology; Nuclear Proteins - biosynthesis; p53; p73; skin; Skin - metabolism; Skin Diseases - metabolism; Skin Diseases - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Tumor Protein p73; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - biosynthesis; Tumor Suppressor Proteins
• ISSN: 1320-5463; 1440-1827
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2004.01777.x

The p73 gene is a member of the p53 gene family and the structure and functions of p73 protein are similar to those of  p53.  However,  these  two  proteins  have  different  roles. In the present study, p73 protein was found immunohistochemically to be distributed in the basal cells of the epidermis, columnar basal cells in the hair follicle and peripheral cells without lipid droplets in the sebaceous and meibomian glands; it was expressed strongly in tumor cells in basal cell carcinomas and in the basal cell‐like cells in seborrheic keratosis, and weakly or negatively in the squamous cell‐like cells in seborrheic keratosis and in the tumor cells in squamous cell carcinomas. No relationship was detected between p73 and p53 protein distribution and between p73 protein expression and the proliferative potential, as shown by the Ki‐67 immunopositive cell ratio. The present study shows that p73 protein is likely to play important roles in skin differentiation rather than proliferation or carcinogenesis of the skin.