CYTOKERATIN AND VIMENTIN EXPRESSION IN NORMAL EPITHELIUM AND BENIGN LESIONS OF THE VOCAL CORDS

The expression of cytokeratins and vimentin was studied immunohistoche mically in normal epithelium and 12 benign lesions of the vocal cord w ith the use of a broad panel of monoclonal antibodies against cytokera tins and vimentin. Histology showed that the various lesions contained hyperkeratotic, hyperplastic and atrophic epithelium, irrespective of their clinical appearance. Especially the Ck profile of the (hyper)ke ratotic lesions was changed in comparison with the native epithelium. Increased expression of the keratinization marker Ck 10 was associated with decreased expression of the stratification markers Cks 4 and 13. Expression of the basal cell marker Ck 14 and hyperproliferation-asso ciated Cks 16 and 17 was increased in all the benign lesions, except i n atrophic epithelium. These expression patterns differ from those obs erved in malignant epithelial lesions. The latter show a marked expres sion of simple cell Cks and vimentin and more pronounced expression of hyperproliferation-associated markers than the benign lesions.