IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR INSKIN DISEASES

The basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an angiogenic factor and also a mitogen for epidermal keratinocytes. In order to investigate th e role of bFGF in human skin we examined the distribution of bFGF immu noreactivity in normal and diseased human skin. Antigen expression was demonstrated by direct immunofluorescence staining of cryostat sectio ns with a polyclonal anti-bFGF antibody. In normal human skin, bFGF-li ke immunoreactivities were observed in the basal cells, while in the c ase of psoriasis, positive immunoreactivities were observed in the bas al cells and several supra-basal layers at rete ridges. Seborrheic ker atosis and basal cell epithelioma showed diffuse immunoreactivities in the basaloid cells of the tumor. Concurrently, benign nevus cell nevu s, capillary hemangioma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanom a displayed negative immunoreactivities. These results suggest that bF GF is important for basal or basaloid cell proliferation.