Evidence mapPaperPMID 41403288Full record

ArticleAndrology2026

Histopathological Characterization and Differential Expression of miRNAs in Male Pediatric Patients With Lichen Sclerosus.

Valerie Flammang, Arndt Hartmann, Robert Stöhr, Katrin Weigelt, Carol Geppert, Frederik A Stuebs, Matthias W Beckmann, Bernd Wullich, Helge Taubert, Marios Marcou and 1 more

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Article in Andrology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Valerie FlammangDepartment of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Arndt HartmannInstitute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Robert StöhrInstitute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Katrin WeigeltDepartment of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Carol GeppertInstitute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Frederik A StuebsComprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Matthias W BeckmannComprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Bernd WullichDepartment of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Helge TaubertDepartment of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9077-1727
Marios MarcouDepartment of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Sven WachDepartment of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLichen sclerosus is a chronic, inflammatory, scarring disease of the skin that manifests mostly in the genital region.

objectiveWe studied the histomorphological characteristics, grade, and pattern of inflammation in male pediatric patients with lichen sclerosus. We also compared the expression of selected miRNAs in lichen sclerosus tissue, adjacent non-lichen sclerosus tissue from the same patient, and healthy male pediatric patients. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: According to the type of inflammation/lymphocytic distribution, we categorized patients into four groups with the following features: (i) dominant lichenoid basal superficial inflammation, (ii) dominant band-like lymphocytic infiltration in the papillary sublayer of the dermis, (iii) mixed lymphocytic inflammation combining both patterns, and (iv) lymphocytic depletion with extensive fibrosis. The extent of inflammation was graded, with patients being categorized into weak, moderate, and strong inflammation groups. In terms of miRNA expression, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-146b-5p, hsa-miR-150-5p, and hsa-miR-155-5p were significantly upregulated, and hsa-miR-199b-5p and hsa-miR-200b-3p were significantly downregulated in lichen sclerosus tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue as well as normal tissue from male pediatric non-lichen sclerosus patients (p < 0.001). Hsa-miR-30b-5p was significantly downregulated in lichen sclerosus patients compared with male pediatric non-lichen sclerosus patients (p < 0.001). Pediatric male lichen sclerosus patients were categorized into two groups according to median age (≤9 years vs. >9 years); the early onset prepubertal patients presented, on average, a higher grade of inflammation (p = 0.020) and significantly higher miRNA hsa-miR-150-5p (p = 0.049) expression compared to the older group.

conclusionsHistopathological investigations can distinguish lichen sclerosus patient groups with different extents of disease. miRNAs could serve as candidate diagnostic markers for lichen sclerosus in pediatric male patients and may represent future therapeutic targets.

Indexed as

Lichen Sclerosus et AtrophicusMicroRNAsAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolHumansMaleMicroRNAshistopathologyinflammationlichen sclerosusmale pediatric patientsmicroRNAs

Identifiers

PMID41403288
PMCPMC12919680

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.