16S Based Microbiome Analysis from Healthy Subjects' Skin Swabs Stored for Different Storage Periods Reveal Phylum to Genus Level Changes.

Microbiome research and improvements in high throughput sequencing technologies revolutionize our current scientific viewpoint. The human associated microbiome is a prominent focus of clinical research. Large cohort studies are often required to investigate the human microbiome composition and its changes in a multitude of human diseases.

Mast cells are required for phototolerance induction and scratching abatement.

Dermal mast cells protect the skin from inflammatory effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and are required for UV-induced immune suppression. We sought to determine a potential mechanistic role of mast cells in reducing the sensitivity to UV radiation (i.e.

Photodynamic therapy downregulates the function of regulatory T cells in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) by selective photosensitization of cancer cells and subsequent laser application results in local tumor necrosis. However, the effects of PDT on immune function, which may depend on the type of immune response, are controversial. We investigated the immunological changes induced by PDT and the effect of PDT on level and function of regulatory T cells (Treg) in patients with invasive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Photohardening of polymorphic light eruption patients decreases baseline epidermal Langerhans cell density while increasing mast cell numbers in the papillary dermis.

The pathogenesis of polymorphic light eruption (PLE) has been linked to a lack of UV-induced immune suppression. To determine the role of Langerhans cells (LC), mast cells and regulatory T cells, biopsies from PLE patients were taken from exposed sites in spring before and after photohardening with 311 nm or PUVA as well as again in summer. Skin sections were assessed for the presence of Langerin/CD1a+ LC and CD3+, CD4+, CD25+ or FoxP3+ T cells and mast cells.

Infrequent p53 gene mutation but UV gradient-like p53 protein positivity in keloids.

Keloids are characterized by extreme fibroblastic overgrowth of unknown pathogenesis after skin injury. Previous studies, mostly in non-Caucasian populations, suggest that p53 mutations may be involved. To substantiate this, we performed DNA sequence analysis of exons 4-8 of the p53 gene and immunohistochemical staining of p53 protein in archived keloidal tissue samples from 23 Caucasian patients.

Platelet-activating factor blockade inhibits the T-helper type 17 cell pathway and suppresses psoriasis-like skin disease in K5.hTGF-β1 transgenic mice.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent biolipid mediator, is involved in a variety of cellular transduction pathways and plays a prominent role in inducing inflammation in different organs. We used K5.hTGF-β1 transgenic mice, which exhibit an inflammatory skin disorder and molecular and cytokine abnormalities with strong similarities to human psoriasis, to study the pathogenic role of PAF.

PTCH promoter methylation at low level in sporadic basal cell carcinoma analysed by three different approaches.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. Mutations of the PTCH hallmark gene are detected in about 50-60% of BCCs, which raises the question whether other mechanisms such as promoter methylation can inactivate PTCH. Therefore, we performed methylation analysis of the PTCH promoter in a total of 56 BCCs.

The oncoprotein NPM-ALK of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma induces JUNB transcription via ERK1/2 and JunB translation via mTOR signaling.

Anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs) are highly proliferating tumors that commonly express the AP-1 transcription factor JunB. ALK fusions occur in approximately 50% of ALCLs, and among these, 80% have the t(2;5) translocation with NPM-ALK expression. We report greater activity of JunB in NPM-ALK-positive than in NPM-ALK-negative ALCLs.