Abstract:

Objective   To investigate expression and significance of forkhead box protein-3 (FOXP3) in normal skins, pityriasis rosea, lichen planus, large-plaque parapsoriasis, and mycosis fungoides. Methods   The immunohistochemical EnVision method was applied to detect expression of FOXP3 in 21 cases of pityriasis rosea,19 cases of lichen planus,17 cases of large-plaque parapsoriasis, 22 cases of mycosis fungoides, and 10 normal skin controls. Results   Rates of FOXP3-positive lymphocytes in lesions of pityriasis rosea and lichen planus had no significant difference compared with normal skins (P>0.05). Rates of FOXP3-positive lymphocytes in lesions of large-plaque parapsoriasis and mycosis fungoides were higher than those in pityriasis rosea, lichen planus, and normal skins(P<0.05), while no significant difference was found between large-plaque parapsoriasis and mycosis fungoides (P>0.05). Conclusions   FOXP3-positive lymphocytes show a gradual increase tendency in  inflammatory skin diseases, tumor tendency inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous lymphoma. They may play an important role in immune escape of tumors and promote tumors′ occurrence and development.

Key words: Forkhead box protein-3； Regulatory T lymphocytes； Inflammatory skin diseases； Large-plaque parapsoriasis； Mycosis fungoides； Pityriasis rosea； Lichen planus