Periostin in Mature Stage Localized Scleroderma

Figures

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  Fig. 1. (A) A representative image of localized scleroderma specimen revealing thick and hyalinized collagen bundles (H&E, ×50). (B) A representative image of control skin without evidence of pathologic findings (H&E, ×50). (C) Excessive collagen bundle deposition in the same scleroderma specimen (Masson trichrome, ×50). (D) Moderate amount of collagen fibers in the same control (Masson trichrome, ×50). (E) Diffuse periostin positivity through the whole dermis in the same scleroderma specimen (anti-periostin antibodies, ×50). (F) Focal positivity of periostin mainly along dermo-epidermal junction in the same control (anti-periostin antibodies, ×50). (G) Moderate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 positivity in the epidermis and dermis in the same scleroderma specimen (anti-MMP-1 antibodies, ×50). (H) Scanty MMP-1 positivity in the same control (anti-MMP-1 antibodies, ×50). (I) Scanty TGF-β expression in the scleroderma specimen (anti-TGF-β antibodies, ×50). (J) Scanty TGF-β expression in the control (anti-TGF-β antibodies, ×50). (K) Scanty procollagen expression in the scleroderma specimen (anti-procollagen 1 antibodies, ×50). (L) Scanty procollagen expression in the control…

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  Fig. 2. (A) Scleroderma patient specimen sections are stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), periostin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Periostin showed diffuse positivity through the whole dermis. α-SMA expression is mainly located at pericyte and is not colocalized with periostin expression. (B) Control specimen sections are stained with DAPI, periostin and α-SMA. Periostin showed focal positivity along dermo-epidermal junction and perivascular area. α-SMA expression is mainly located at pericyte and is somewhat colocalized with perivascular periostin positivity.

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  Fig. 3. (A) Significantly higher proportion of excessive collagen bundle deposition (57.1% vs. 7.1%, p=0.013). (B) Diffuse periostin expression (42.9% vs. 0%, p=0.016) in the localized scleroderma specimens compared to controls. (C) Moderate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression (71.4% vs. 7.1%, p=0.001) in the localized scleroderma specimens compared to controls. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.