Abstract:

Yang Peipei, Peng Jing, Yu Zuozhong, Shi Ge, Li Zhaojun, Zhang Guoxue, Fan Yiming*. *Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong, China Corresponding author: Fan Yiming, Email: ymfan1963@163.com 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the expressions of fatty acid-binding protein 5 （FABP5） and dihydroli-poamide dehydrogenase （DLD） in skin lesions of symmetrical acrokeratoderma （SAK）, and to explore their significance. Methods Biopsy specimens were obtained from skin lesions on the wrists and perilesional skin of 9 patients with SAK, and from normal skin in the wrists of 9 healthy volunteers （control group）. Reverse transcription PCR （RT-PCR） and immunohistochemical staining were performed to measure the expressions of FABP5 and DLD in these specimens. Results RT-PCR showed no significant differences in the mRNA expressions of FABP5 or DLD between lesional, perilesional and normal control skin specimens （both P > 0.05）. Immunohistochemically, there was a significant increase in the extent and intensity of staining for FABP5 in SAK lesions. Concretely speaking, FABP5 was strongly expressed in the stratum corneum, granular and spinous layers in SAK lesions, but weakly expressed in the stratum corneum, granular and spinous layers in perilesional skin, and only in spinous and basal layers in normal control skin. The expression of DLD decreased in SAK lesions, and was observed only in the stratum corneum and spinous layer in a few cases of SAK. However, the full-thickness epidermis stained positive for DLD in perilesional skin, with the nuclei and cytoplasm both stained deep brown. Conclusion The overexpression of FABP5 in SAK lesions may participate in dysdifferentiation of keratinocytes, while the down-regulation of DLD expression suggests an imbalance in energy metabolism.