Immunohistochemical Detection of Bcl-2 in Kaposi's Sarcoma Lesions Varies According to Histopathologic Stage, Whereas Expression of Bcl-x and Mcl-1 Differs According to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Serologic Status of Patients

• Published in: Modern pathology Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 438 - 445
• Main Authors: Fernández-Figueras, María-Teresa, Puig, Lluís, Fernández-Vasalo, Angeles, Esquius, Mireia, Montero, María-Angeles, Ariza, Aurelio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.04.2000; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - virology; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Angiogenesis; Apoptosis; Bcl-2; Bcl-x; bcl-X Protein; Cell death; Cell growth; Cytokines; Dermatology; Disease Progression; HIV; HIV Seropositivity; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immune system; Immunohistochemistry; Infections; Kaposi's sarcoma; Kaposis sarcoma; Mcl-1; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Neoplasm Staging; Pathology; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - analysis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis; Sarcoma, Kaposi - complications; Sarcoma, Kaposi - metabolism; Sarcoma, Kaposi - pathology; Tumors; Spain; Bcl-2; Immunohistochemistry; Mcl-1; Bcl-x; Kaposi's sarcoma; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Human immunodeficiency virus; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0893-3952; 1530-0285
• DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.3880075

Expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Mcl-1 was immunohistochemically evaluated in 33 cases of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) of the skin. Of these, classic KS (C-KS) accounted for 17 cases (10 in plaque stage and 7 in tumor stage) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome–associated KS (AIDS-KS) accounted for 16 cases (8 in plaque stage and 8 in tumor stage). In both C-KS and AIDS-KS, Bcl-2 immunoreaction correlated with progression stage, its average score intensity being more than 2-fold in tumors than in plaques. In contrast, Bcl-x and Mcl-1 staining intensity was unrelated to progression stage but was dependent on human immunodeficiency virus infection status. Thus, whereas Bcl-x expression was stronger in C-KS cases, Mcl-1 immunostaining was more intense in AIDS-KS instances. These findings indicate that in cutaneous KS, some Bcl-2 family proteins exhibit differential expressions that are dependent on either progression stage or human immunodeficiency virus infection status.