Assessment of BCL-2 expression in actinic keratosis, keratoacanthoma and seborrheic keratosis cases

Abstract

Aim: One of the main functions of apoptosis is the elimination of cells with damaged DNA, including premalignant cells in skin. Apoptosis is regulated by the balance between antiapoptotic and proapoptotic proteins. The bcl–2 protein has been shown antiapoptotic effect. It protects cell against apoptosis induced by different death-inducing signals. Material and Methods: In this study the authors have analyzed imunohistochemically the expression of bcl-2 protein in the histopathological variants of the precancerous lesion [actinic keratosis (AK) (28 cases) and keratoacanthomas (KA) (12 cases) and seborrheic keratosis (SK) (22 cases) in skin. Results: In cases of AK, bcl-2 expression was confined to basal cell layer, as well as in two cases of thorough epidermis. SK expression of bcl–2 protein was in areas of basaloid proliferation.KA expression of bcl-2 protein was not dome-shaped keratin-filled crater areas but bcl-2 expression was confined of non crater areas. Conclusion: In conclusion, bcl-2 expression supports the observation that tumor cells are derived from basal keratinocytes in AK and SK and not support the observation that tumor cells are derived from basal keratinocytes in KA.