Comparison of gene expression changes induced by biguanides in db/db mice liver.

Large-scale clinical studies have shown that the biguanide drug metformin, widely used for type 2 diabetes, to be very safe. By contrast, another biguanide, phenformin, has been withdrawn from major markets because of a high incidence of serious adverse effects. The difference in mode of action between the two biguanides remains unclear.

Tenascin-C is upregulated in the skin lesions of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Tenascin-C is a large, hexameric extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is expressed during embryogenesis, carcinogenesis and wound healing. In normal adult human skin the expression level of tenascin-C is low, but levels are elevated in skin tumors and rise significantly in the dermal compartment during wound healing. Although the expression of tenascin-C could be upregulated by inflammatory cytokines, the role of tenascin-C in atopic dermatitis (AD) is still unclear.

Gene expression of enzymes for tryptophan degradation pathway is upregulated in the skin lesions of patients with atopic dermatitis or psoriasis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis are common inflammatory skin diseases. Although many reports implicate Th2 cytokines in the pathophysiology of AD and Th1 cytokines in psoriasis, the precise etiology of these diseases remains elusive.

Objective: We investigated novel AD- or psoriasis-related genes to further understand the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Gene expression analysis of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions induced in NC/Nga mice by mite antigen stimulation under specific pathogen-free conditions.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammation characterized by pruritic and eczematous skin lesions usually observed in patients with a familial history of atopic diseases, but its exact etiology is unclear. An animal model is indispensable for the analysis of the pathogenesis and the development of new drugs to treat this disease. Here, we compare changes in gene expression profiles in the AD-like skin lesions of NC/Nga or BALB/c mice stimulated intradermally by mite antigen under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions.

High-density oligonucleotide array analysis of mRNA transcripts in peripheral blood cells of severe atopic dermatitis patients.

Background: There are few laboratory tests for evaluating atopic dermatitis (AD) with the exception of IgE levels or the eosinophil count. We attempted to identify new diagnostic markers by screening the genome-wide expression of transcripts in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Methods: For this study, we enrolled 7 nonatopic healthy volunteers, 5 AD patients who responded well to treatment and 6 who responded poorly.