[Immunohistochemical study of nevocellular nevi].

Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on 64 nevocellular nevi (12 compound nevi and 52 intradermal nevi). S-100 protein and its alpha- and beta-subunits were almost always demonstrated in type A, B and C cells, and the staining intensity tended to increase in the type C cells. Neuron-specific enolase was detected in each type of cell; however, the population of positive cells was smaller among type C cells. Beta 2-microglobulin was occasionally demonstrated, but only in type A cells. Vimentin was frequently revealed in every type of cell. Neither myelin basic protein nor glial fibrillary acidic protein was observed in any type of cell. In contrast, normal epidermal melanocytes were positive for vimentin, but negative for S-100 protein and its subunits and neuron-specific enolase. Schwann cells were positive for S-100 protein and its beta-subunit, but negative for the alpha-subunit. Thus, the nevus cells shared a common nature with epidermal melanocytes and Schwann cells which originate from the neural crest; however, the former cells were somewhat different from the latter two kinds and from benign and malignant tumors derived from these cells in the expression of these antigenic substances. Such differences in the expression of antigenic substances may be due to dysontogenic manifestations in nevus cells.