Unusual remodeling of the hyalinization band in vulval lichen sclerosus by type V collagen and ECM 1 protein

Autor(es)

Charles A.P. Godoy ^[1] ; Walcy R. Teodoro ^[2] ; Ana Paula P. Velosa ^[3] ; Ana Lucia Garippo ^[4] ; Esmeralda Miristeni Eher ^[5] ; Edwin Roger Parra ^[6] ; Mirian N. Sotto ^[7] ; Vera L. Capelozzi ^[8]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Pathology - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Division of Rheumatology - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Division of Rheumatology - Brasil

^[4] Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Pathology - Brasil

^[5] Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Pathology - Brasil

^[6] Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Pathology - Brasil

^[7] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Dermatology - Brasil

^[8] Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Pathology - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Clinics; v. 70, n. 5, p. 356-362, 2015-05-00.

Resumo

OBJECTIVES: The vulva is the primary site affected in lichen sclerosus, a chronic dermatosis in women that is histologically characterized by a zone of collagen remodeling in the superior dermis. The normal physiological properties of the vulva depend on the assembly of collagen types I (COLI), III (COLIII) and V (COLV), which form heterotypic fibers, and extracellular matrix protein interactions. COLV regulates the heterotypic fiber diameter, and the preservation of its properties is important for maintaining normal tissue architecture and function. In the current work, we analyzed the expression of COLV and its relationship with COLI, COLIII, elastic fibers and extracellular matrix protein 1 in vulvar biopsies from patients with lichen sclerosus. METHODS: Skin biopsies from 21 patients with lichen sclerosus, classified according to Hewitt histological criteria, were studied and compared to clinically normal vulvar tissue (N=21). Morphology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, 3D reconstruction and morphometric analysis of COLI, COLIII, COLV deposition, elastic fibers and extracellular matrix 1 expression in a zone of collagen remodeling in the superior dermis were performed. RESULTS: A significant decrease of elastic fibers and extracellular matrix 1 protein was present in the hyalinization zone of lichen sclerosus compared to healthy controls. The non-homogeneous distribution of collagen fibers visualized under immunofluorescence in the hyalinization zone of lichen sclerosus and control skin was confirmed by histomorphometry. Lichen sclerosus dermis shows a significant increase of COLI, COLIII and COLV expression compared to the healthy controls. Significant inverse associations were found between elastic fibers and COLV and between COLV and extracellular matrix 1 expression. A direct association was found between elastic fiber content and extracellular matrix 1 expression. Tridimensional reconstruction of the heterotypic fibers of the lichen sclerosus zone of collagen remodeling confirmed the presence of densely clustered COLV. CONCLUSIONS: Increased deposition of abnormal COLV and its correlation with extracellular matrix 1 and elastic fibers suggest that COLV may be a trigger in the pathogenesis of lichen sclerosus. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/03543-2 - Relevância do fibroblasto no remodelamento parenquimatoso pulmonar em modelos experimentais de fibrose induzida por bleomicina e 3-5-di-tert-4-hidroxitolueno (BHT)
• Beneficiário: Vera Luiza Capelozzi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 11/52095-0 - Avaliação da frequência das mutações EGFR, KRAS e EML4-ALK em adenocarcinomas e seus subtipos e impacto da expressão das hialuronidases e sintases do ácido hialurônico nas lesões pré-neoplásicas pulmonares
• Beneficiário: Vera Luiza Capelozzi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular