Abnormal Expression Of Keratinocyte Differentiation Markers In Lesional Skin Of HPV-infected Warts

Objective To study abnormal expression of Keratin 10, Keratinl 7 , Keratin16, Transglutaminase of keratinocyte (TGK), Filaggrin in verruca planae , verruca vulgaris and condylomata acuminita, and analyse the significance of these makers in pathological changes of Human Papilloma virus(HPV)-infected warts.Method In this study, the in situ expression of Keratinl0, Keratinl7, Keratinl Transglutaminase of keratinocyte (TGK) , Filaggrin in verruca planae , verruca vulgaris and condylomata acuminita were dectected with immunohistochemistry -LAB(Label[strept]Avidin-Biotin) and then compared with that in the lesional psoriatic epidermis.Results (1)In normal epidermis Keratin 17 was stained negatively , While in verruca vulgaris , condylomata acuminita and psoriasis, Keratin 17 was found at the prickle cell layer , which is much different from that in normal skin control. In defected skin of verruca planae,Keratin17 was mainly negatively stained ,which is same to normal skin.(2)Keratin 16 was faintly positive at the basal cell layer or negative in epidermis. While in verruca planae , verruca vulgaris, condylomata acuminita and psoriasis, Keratin 16 mainly distributed above the basal cell layer , which is much different from that in normal skin control.(3)TGK was positively stained only in stratum granulosum of normal epidermis . However, the positively stained area extended to prickle cell layer in defected skin of verruca planae, verruca vulgaris and condylomata acuminita and the staining intensity was markedly stronger than that in normal skin. The distribution of TGK in psoriasis was analogous to warts.(4)The expression of Filaggrin was limited to stratum corneum in normal epidermis. In defected skin of verruca planae, verruca vulgaris besides above area, Filaggrin was also expressed at upper part of prickle cell layer or middle part of prickle cell layer and the color intensity was higher. In contrast, only at wedge of incrassate stratum granulosum there was marked positively area in defected skin of condylomata acuminita and psoriasis. (5)In normal epidermis Keratin 10 was stained superbasal cell layer . in the defected skin ofverruca planae , verruca vulgaris, condylomata acuminita and psoriasis, Keratin 10 was also stained superbasal cell layer in a similar pattern.Conclusions These findings suggest that there are obviously abnormal hyperproliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes in defected skin of verruca planae, verruca vulgaris and condylomata acuminita. The advanced expression of Filaggrin may start the mechanism of apoptosis ahead of tune and the premature expression of TGK may accelerate the formation of cornified cell membrane, which will speed up the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. Consequently, the hyperproliferative keratinocytes differentiate and exfoliate. This increased apoptosis of cells is beneficial to eliminate the excessive hyperproliferative keratinocytes.The expression of Keratin 17 and Keratin 16 in lesional skin of warts may be not only hyperproliferation markers of keratinocytes ,but also the result of up-regulation by cytokines from infiltrated inflammatory cells.Keratin 10 may be the primary differentiation marker. At the areas of normal skin proxmate lesional skin in verruca planae , verruca vulgaris and condylomata acuminita,although there are no pathological changes under microscrope,the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes may have been abnormal.