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Adhesion molecule expression in normal skin and melanocytic lesions

Cell adhesion between surfaces of cells and to extracellular matrices represents a fundamental mechanism in tissue organization and influences the biological behaviour and the architecture of tumors. We investigated the expression of various adhesion molecules in normal skin (n=5), nevi (n=29), and malignant melanoma (n=10) by immunohistochemistry. Special attention was paid to the correlation between adhesion molecule expression and the respective architectural features, e.g. UV‐induced morphological changes, and the arrangement of melanocytes in congenital nevi. In nevi, a single erythemagenic close of UV‐light did not influence the influence expression of melanocytes, but results in an upregulation of α3β1‐ and α6β1‐integrin within the suprabasal layers of the epidermis. This suprabasal labelling was associated with an increased number of suprabasal melanocytes in UV‐irradiated nevi which were detected with HMB‐45 antibody. Nine of 10 congenital nevi demonstrated a labelling of α4β1‐integrin only in melanocytes of the deeper dermis. This integrin previously has been associated with high tumor thickness and the clinical outcome in melanomas. The integrin profile observed in melanomas differed in part from that seen in nevi with expression of β2‐and β3‐integrins in some cases. The results may indicate a correlation between adhesion molecule expression and histopathological findings in melanocytic lesions.