An immunohistochemical study of abnormal keratinocyte differentiation in molluscum contagiosum

To investigate abnormalities in the keratinization process in lesional epid ermis: of molluscum contagiosum, production of filaggrin, loricrin, Ted-H-1 antigen, involucrin, cystatin A and CD95 ligand (CD95L) was investigated u sing specific antibodies. Anti-filaggrin monoclonal antibody (MoAb) did not react with keratohyalin granules (KHG), but with the substance around viru s particles in the stratum corneum. KHG reacted with anti-loricrin polyclon al antibody (PoAb) and anti-Ted-H-1 MoAb. Anti-involucrin PoAb and anti-cys tatin A PoAb reacted with materials in the cytoplasm of the middle stratum spinosum to the stratum granulosum. CD95L was expressed in the cell membran e region of the living cell layers in lesional epidermis. These observation s suggest that the keratinization process may be altered in molluscum conta giosum.