Objective: To investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in chloracne.
Methods: Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (p-EGFR) and p-MAPK proteins in the epithelium of chloracne group and control group.
Results: p-EGFR and p-MAPK was found in all chloracne tissues, whereas no expression of p-EGFR and p-MAPK protein was found in control group. In the skin of chloracne patients, p-EGFR was mainly distributed in the membrane and the cytoplasm, especially in the vicinity of membrane; major positive signal of p-MAPK was in core and serosity.
Conclusion: EGFR and MAPK phosphorylation is found in chloracne tissues. MAPK signal transduction pathway is one important molecular mechanism of chloracne.