Summary
The expression of involucrin was studied in a group of skin neoplasms, mostly of adnexal origin. As happens with other types of epithelial tumours, involucrin was detected in the most differentiated areas (presenting a squamoid or ductal differentiation). No reactivity was observed in non-epithelial skin tumours. These results suggest that involucrin is a specific marker for epithelial and adnexal differentiation of skin tumours and may thus be a useful aid in histopathologic diagnosis and classification of neoplasms.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banks-Schlegel S, Green H (1981) Involucrin synthesis and tissue assembly by keratinocytes in natural and cultured human epithelia. J Cell Biol 20:732–737
Bernard BA, Robinson SM, Vandaele S, Mansbridge JN, Darmon M (1985) Abnormal maturation pathway of keratinocytes in psoriatic skin. Br J Dermatol 112:647–653
Gould V, Moll R, Moll I, Lee I, Franke W (1985) Neuroendocrine (Merkel) cells of the skin: hyperplasias, dysplasias and neoplasms. Lab Invest 52:334–353
Kanitakis J, Bendelac A, Marchand C, Rigot-Muller G, Thivolet J (1986) Stewart-Treves syndrome: an histogenetic (ultrastructural and immunohistological) study. J Cutan Pathol (in press)
Lacour JP, Verrando P, Pisani A, Ortonne JP (1985) Expression de l'involucrine au sein des carcinomes baso-et spinocellulaires. Ann Dermatol Vénéréol 112:207–208 (abstract)
Miettinen M, Lehto VP, Virtanen J (1983) Postmastectomy angiosarcoma (Stewart-Treves syndrome). Light microscopic, immunohistological and ultrastructural characteristics of two cases. Am J Surg Pathol 7:329–339
Moll R, Moll I, Franke WW (1984) Identification of Merkel cells in human skin by specific cytokeratin antibodies: changes of cell density and distribution in fetal and adult plantar epidermis. Differentiation 28:136–154
Murphy GF, Flynn TC, Rice RH, Pinkus G (1984) Involucrin expression in normal and neoplastic human skin: a marker for keratinocyte differentiation. J Invest Dermatol 82:453–457
Ortonne JP, Darmon M (1985) Merkel cells express desmosomal proteins and cytokeratins. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 65:161–164
Rice RH, Green H (1979) Presence in human epidermal cells of a soluble protein precursor of the cross-linking by calcium ions. Cell 18:681–694
Said JW, Sassoon AF, Shintaku IP, Banks-Schlegel S (1984) Involucrin in squamous and basal cell carcinomas of the skin: an immunohistochemical study. J Invest Dermatol 82:449–452
Walts AE, Said JW, Siegel MB, Banks-Schlegel S (1985) Involucrin, a marker of squamous and urothelial differentiation. An immunohistochemical study on its distribution in normal and neoplastic tissue. J Pathol 145:329–340
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kanitakis, J., Zambruno, G., Viac, J. et al. Involucrin expression in adnexal skin tumours. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 408, 527–540 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705306
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705306