β-Catenin Overexpression in Dupuytren’s Disease Is Unrelated to Disease Recurrence

Recurrence of Dupuytren’s contracture is common yet unpredictable, compromising surgical outcome. The α-smooth muscle actin-containing myofibroblast is the active contractile cellular component. Based on recent reports on β-catenin accumulation in Dupuytren’s disease, we investigated a possible relation with disease recurrence. We divided a collection of 143 nodules into those from patients with recurrent or nonrecurrent nodules and with a minimal 3-year followup. We randomly selected 12 and 11 samples of each group, respectively. We looked at Dupuytren’s diathesis, immunohistologic staining for β-catenin and α-smooth muscle actin, and Luck’s histologic stages (zones). The expression of selected Wnt genes was examined with TaqMan^® PCR in separate histologic zones. All samples showed cytoplasmic and nuclear β-catenin accumulation in myofibroblasts in involutional zones. The risk score of Abe et al. and Dupuytren’s diathesis were greater in the recurrent group. Greater Wnt5a expression in the β-catenin-accumulating involutional zone was seen. We conclude intracellular β-catenin accumulation, possibly regulated by upstream Wnt signaling pathway activation and confined in myofibroblasts in the involutional zone of Dupuytren’s diathesis, is unrelated to disease recurrence. Clinical parameters for Dupuytren’s diathesis remain the best way to predict recurrence risk.