Korean J Anat.  2002 Aug;35(4):261-268.

Comparison of Transforming Growth Factor-alpha and Epidermal Growth Factor Expression in Melanocytic Nevi: An Immunohistochemical Study

• Kang YS
• Chung YY

Abstract

Transforming growth Factor-alpha(TGF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are polypeptides which interact with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to produce its biological effects. In normal human tissues, its immunocytochemical presence and biological effects have been demonstrated. The aim of the present investigation was to elucidate the immunolocalization of TGF-alpha and EGF in melanocytic nevi. The data presented in this paper focus attention on comparison of TGF-alpha and EGF in intradermal nevus. The expression of TGF-alpha was stronger than EGF in epidermis of melanocytic nevi. In intradermal nevus, TGF-alpha immunoreactivities were present in most of layers of epidermis and a group of nevus cells in dermis were uniformly immunoreactive with minimal cytoplasm. The expression of EGF was found in part of cytoplasm of keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum of epidermis. However, keratinocytes in the stratum basale and nevus cells did not demonstrate immunoreactivity for EGF. In epidermal appendages, the staining intensity of EGF was generally weaker than for TGF-alpha except cells in the external root sheath of hair follicle. In conclusion, some regional variations in the intensity of the immunostaining between TGF-alpha and EGF were present in melanocytic nevi. Our results indicate that TGF-alpha may play a role in growth and proliferation of nevus cells.

Keyword

Transforming growth Factor-alpha; Epidermal growth factor; Melanocytic nevus; Human; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Cytoplasm
Dermis
Epidermal Growth Factor*
Epidermis
Hair Follicle
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Keratinocytes
Nevus
Nevus, Intradermal
Nevus, Pigmented*
Peptides
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Transforming Growth Factor alpha
Epidermal Growth Factor
Peptides
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Transforming Growth Factor alpha