Treatment-induced anogenital melanosis is a very frequent finding in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus

Background:. Pigmented lesions such as melanosis have rarely been reported in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) that is typically characterized by hypopigmented lesions. Objective:. We aimed to analyze systematically anogenital melanosis in a large cohort of VLS patients. Methods:. We analyzed the clinical data of 198 female patients with VLS. The anogenital lesions of all patients were professionally photographed in a standardized position and illumination. Severity classification of architectural findings followed an easy-to-use clinical score. A modified Melasma Area and Severity Index and an image analysis software were used to evaluate the area and intensity of pigmentation. Results:. According to the clinical score, 79 (198/39.9%) patients showed grade 1 disease, 78 (198/39.4%) grade 2, 37 (198/18.7%) grade 3, and 4 (198/2%) grade 4 disease. About 111 (56.1%) of the 198 patients had anogenital melanosis with a median modified Melasma Area and Severity Index of 3.6 (0.4–14). Univariate analysis revealed that anogenital melanosis was positively correlated with the use of topical estrogens (P = .0018) and negatively correlated with the use of pulsed high-dose corticosteroids plus low-dose methotrexate (PHDC-LDM, P = .021). On multivariable analysis, the use of topical hormone therapy turned out to be a strong independent predictor for the presence of anogenital melanosis (odds ratio: 4.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.66–12.57, P = .0033), whereas PHDC-LDM use was an independent predictor for the absence of anogenital melanosis (odds ratio: 0.35, 95% confidence interval: 0.15–0.84, P = .018). Limitations:. The study includes the retrospective monocentric design. Conclusion:. Anogenital melanosis is a very frequent and so far, under-reported clinical finding in VLS patients. It is likely caused by the use of topical estrogens employed for VLS treatment. In contrast, patients with more severe disease and PHDC-LDM treatment appear to develop less likely anogenital melanosis

Stemness Potency and Structural Characteristics of Thyroid Cancer Cell Lines

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most frequent type of endocrine malignancy. Thyroid carcinomas are derived from the follicular epithelium and classified as papillary (PTC) (85%), follicular (FTC) (12%), and anaplastic (ATC) (<3%). Thyroid cancer could arise from thyroid cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). CSCs are cancer cells that feature stem-like properties. Kruppel-like factor (KLF4) and Stage-spesific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA-1) are types of stem cell markers. Filamentous actin (F-actin) is an essential part of the cellular cytoskeleton. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stem cell potency and the spatial distribution of the cytoskeletal element F-actin in PTC, FTC, and ATC cell lines. Materials and methods: Normal thyroid cell line (NTC) Nthy-ori-3–1, PTC cell line BCPAP, FTC cell line FTC-133 and ATC cell line 8505c were stained with SSEA-1 and KLF4 for stem cell potency and F-actin for cytoskeleton. The morphological properties of cells were assessed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and elemental ratios were compared with EDS. Results: PTCs had greater percentages of SSEA-1 and KLF4 protein intensity (0.32% and 0.49%, respectively) than NTCs. ATCs had a greater proportion of KLF4 expression (0.8%) than NTCs. NTCs and FTCs had increased F-actin intensity across the cell, but PTCs had the lowest among these four cell lines. NTCs and PTCs, as well as NTCs and FTCs, have statistically identical aspect ratios and round values. These values, however, were statistically different in ATCs. Conclusion: The study of stem cell markers and the cytoskeletal element F-actin in cancer and normal thyroid cell lines may assist in the identification of new therapeutic targets and contribute in the understanding of treatment resistance mechanisms. © 2022 Elsevier GmbHWe are grateful to Ahmet Topacoglu for his grammar support. All materials used in our study were purchased from public repositories. there isn't any unique or unaccessible material used. Material information mentioned in the M&M section. For additional questions please contact with our corresponding author. Not applicable

The expression of HDAC9 and P300 in papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line

Purpose: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer and accounts for 85–90% of all thyroid cancers. Metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer, radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer still lack effective therapeutic options. Here, we aimed to assess HDAC9 and P300 expression in the papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line and compare them with normal thyroid cells. Methods: Nthy-ori-3–1, a normal thyroid cell line, and BCPAP, a PTC cell line, were cultured for 24 and 48 h and immunofluorescence staining was used to determine the levels of HDAC9 and P300 protein expression. HDAC9 paracrine release was assessed using an ELISA assay. Results: HDAC9 protein expression was higher in both cell groups at the 48th hour than at the 24th hour; however, P300 protein expression was lower in BCPAP cells at the 48th hour than at the 24th hour. In comparison to Nthy-ori-3–1, BCPAP expressed more HDAC9 and P300 proteins. HDAC9 secretion slightly increased in Nthy-ori-3–1 cells from 24 to 48 h. Furthermore, HDAC9 secretion in BCPAP cells dramatically decreased from 24 to 48 h. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the expression of HDAC9 and P300 was higher in the PTC cell line than in normal thyroid cells. This indicates that the acetylation mechanism in thyroid cancer cells is not the same as it is in healthy cells. Epigenetic studies may reveal the mechanisms underlying PTC with further analysis