Immunohistochemical detection of cyclin D and cyclin A in human hyperproliferative epidermis

Globosal basal cells are identified as proliferating cells in mouse olfactory epithelium

Although anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) antibodies are used for detecting proliferating cells, they may stain proliferating cells in phases following the S-phase, except for G1. Anti-Ki67 antibodies are widely used for detecting proliferating cells in all phases of the cell cycle (G1-, S-, G2-, and M-phase), but not in resting cells (G0-phase). Anti-cyclin D1 antibodies are used to detect proliferating cells in the G1-phase. The present study investigated the olfactory epithelium of mice by double immunostaining using antibodies to BrdU, Ki67. cyclin D1, and cytokeratin 14 (CK14). The cells positive to the anti-BrdU antibody, the anti-Ki67 antibody, and the anti-cyclin D1 antibody differed from the cells positive to the anti-CK14 antibody. Thus, we confirmed that the proliferating cells in all the phases of the cell cycle, including the G1-phase, were globosal basal cells, which were the precursors of the olfactory cells.

Cyclin D1, B and A expression and cell turnover in psoriatic skin lesions before and after cyclosporin treatment

BACKGROUND

Cyclosporin induces a dramatic reversal to normality in psoriatic lesions, with a reduction of inflammatory infiltrate and epidermal proliferation. It is known that the cell cycle and cell proliferation are regulated by the sequential activation of cyclin-dependent kinase/cyclin complexes.

AIM

We evaluated epidermal cell turnover and thickness, as well as the expression of cyclins D1, B and A in psoriatic skin before and after therapy with cyclosporin.

METHODS

Epidermal thickness, mitotic and apoptotic indices (MI, AI), as well as the percentages of epidermal cell nuclei positive for Ki-67 and cyclins D1, B and A were calculated. Cytoplasmic positivity to cyclin B was also evaluated.

RESULTS

After 6 weeks of therapy, we observed a clinical improvement of the disease and normalization of the epidermis. Epidermal thickness and Ki-67-, cyclins B- and A-positive nuclei percentage were significantly higher before therapy than after (0.52 +/- 0.05 mm vs. 0.21 +/- 0.03 mm, P < 0.001; 19 vs. 2.6, 19 vs. 3, and 12 vs. 1, respectively; P < 0.0005); cytoplasmic positivity to cyclin B was slightly higher before therapy (score 3 vs. 2-3). Cyclin D1 was negative or expressed in a low percentage of nuclei in psoriasis before therapy (0.78), whereas it was always negative after therapy. MI was 0.15 before therapy, whereas mitoses were almost absent afterwards. Apoptoses were undetectable before therapy, whereas a few apoptoses were observed after treatment (AI = 0.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Overexpression of cyclins B and A, rather than D1 seems to characterize psoriasis. Their evaluation could provide further insights in understanding the development of this disorder and could be used to verify the efficacy of currently used therapies as well as future ones.

Proliferation markers, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki67, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, and cyclin D1 in mouse olfactory epithelium

We immunohistochemically identified proliferating cells in the olfactory epithelium of mice, using an anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody, an anti-Ki67 antibody, an anti-5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) antibody, and an anti-cyclin D antibody. Positive cells stained by the 4 antibodies were identified mainly in the basal layer. The mean numbers of positive cells stained by the 4 antibodies in 500 olfactory epithelium cells from each animal were as follows: PCNA-positive cells 42, Ki67-positive cells 23, BrdU-positive cells 13.7, and cyclin D1-positive cells 9.2. PCNA may be detected in both proliferating and resting cells. Ki67 is an intranuclear antigen expressed in proliferating, but not resting, cells. Anti-BrdU antibodies might stain proliferating cells only following the S-phase, but not the G1-phase. Cyclin D1 is a protein that works during the G1-phase of the cell cycle. When we stain proliferating cells using proliferating cell markers, it is important to consider the cell cycle phases during which each marker stains.

Cyclin A is associated with an unfavourable outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinomas

Specimens of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs; n = 187) were analysed immunohistochemically for expression of cyclin A. The analysis was intended to determine whether cyclin A has additional prognostic value for predicting patients' survival and drug response. Of the 187 NSCLCs, 141 cases (75%) showed expression of cyclin A. Patients with cyclin A-positive carcinomas had significantly shorter median survival times than patients with cyclin A-negative carcinomas (79 vs 129 weeks, P = 0.045). Similar results were obtained with more homogeneous groups of patients: patients with only T3 tumours, patients with epidermoid carcinomas and patients with lymph node involvement. The clinical parameters (age, stage, histology, extent of tumour size, lymph node involvement) had no influence on expression of cyclin A. A direct correlation between cyclin A and the proportion of S-phase cells (P = 0.08) and an inverse relationship between cyclin A and the proportion of G0/G1-phase cells (P = 0.04) were found. Furthermore, a significant correlation between the expression of cyclin A and the response of NSCLC to doxorubicin in vitro was detected (P = 0.026).

Cell cycle regulators in the keratinocyte (cyclin-cdk)

It has recently become clear that cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) complex regulates the cell cycle by phosphorylating Rb protein, a tumor suppressor protein. It is likely that this complex is a target of various growth factors and anti-growth factors (UV, TGF-beta etc.) in keratinocyte (KC). It has also been suggested that abnormalities in the cell cycle regulating mechanism such as increased activity of cyclin-cdk due to mutation of p53, a tumor suppressor gene, and overexpression of cyclin D may be concerned with carcinogenesis of KC. Thus, recent studies indicate that the cyclin-cdk complex is a common target of proliferation and carcinogenesis in KC.