A Phenotypic Analysis of Involucrin-Membrane-Bound Ovalbumin Mice after Adoptive Transfer of Ovalbumin-Specific CD8 T Cells.

To investigate the mechanism of autoimmunity and peripheral tolerance in the skin, several transgenic mouse strains expressing membrane-bound ovalbumin (mOVA) as an epidermal self-antigen under the control of keratinocyte-specific promotors, such as keratin 5 and keratin 14, were employed in combination with adoptive transfer of CD8 T cells from OT-I mice (OT-I T cells) that recognize an ovalbumin-derived peptide. However, these strains showed bodyweight loss and required additional inflammatory stimuli, such as γ-irradiation and tape-stripping, to induce skin inflammation. In this study, we generated a mouse strain expressing mOVA under the control of human involucrin promoter (involucrin-mOVA mice).

Tp63-expressing adult epithelial stem cells cross lineages boundaries revealing latent hairy skin competence.

The formation of hair follicles, a landmark of mammals, requires complex mesenchymal-epithelial interactions and it is commonly believed that embryonic epidermal cells are the only cells that can respond to hair follicle morphogenetic signals in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that epithelial stem cells of non-skin origin (e.g.

Suprabasin-null mice retain skin barrier function and show high contact hypersensitivity to nickel upon oral nickel loading.

Suprabasin (SBSN) is expressed not only in epidermis but also in epithelial cells of the upper digestive tract where metals such as nickel are absorbed. We have recently shown that SBSN level is decreased in the stratum corneum and serum of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, especially in intrinsic AD, which is characterized by metal allergy. By using SBSN-null (Sbsn) mice, this study was conducted to investigate the outcome of SBSN deficiency in relation to AD.

Protective role of Galectin-7 for skin barrier impairment in atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) patients have a barrier disorder in association with Th2 dominant skin inflammation. Galectin-7 (Gal-7), a soluble unglycosylated lectin, is highly expressed in the stratum corneum of AD patients. However, the biological significance of increased Gal-7 expression in AD skin lesions remains unclear.

Potential role of transforming growth factor-beta 1/Smad signaling in secondary lymphedema after cancer surgery.

Secondary lymphedema often develops after cancer surgery, and over 250 million patients suffer from this complication. A major symptom of secondary lymphedema is swelling with fibrosis, which lowers the patient's quality of life, even if cancer does not recur. Nonetheless, the pathophysiology of secondary lymphedema remains unclear, with therapeutic approaches limited to physical or surgical therapy.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells as a possible key player to initiate alopecia areata in the C3H/HeJ mouse.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a tissue-specific autoimmune disease, and interferon (IFN)-γ has been regarded as the key cytokine in the pathogenesis of AA. The clinical observation that AA can occur after viral infection or IFN-α administration implies that IFN-α-producing plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) may be involved in the AA pathogenesis.

Methods: We generated AA in C3H/HeJ mice by intradermal injection of T cells derived from lymph nodes of AA-bearing syngeneic mice and stimulated IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15.

Decreased expression of suprabasin induces aberrant differentiation and apoptosis of epidermal keratinocytes: Possible role for atopic dermatitis.

Background: Suprabasin (SBSN), a secreted protein, is expressed in various epithelial tissues. The role of SBSN in epidermal differentiation and atopic dermatitis (AD) pathology remains largely unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of SBSN on epidermal keratinocytes and its role in AD.

Palmar hyperlinearity in early childhood atopic dermatitis is associated with filaggrin mutation and sensitization to egg.

Background/objectives: Palmar hyperlinearity is a typical clinical feature of Filaggrin gene (FLG) null mutations. There are reports of FLG mutations and allergic sensitization; however, reports on the relationship between palmar hyperlinearity to sensitization are limited. This study aimed to examine the association between palmar hyperlinearity and sensitization in atopic dermatitis (AD) children.

Voriconazole-induced photocarcinogenesis is promoted by aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent COX-2 upregulation.

Voriconazole (VRCZ) induces the development of UV-associated skin cancers. The mechanism underlying the VRCZ-induced carcinogenesis has been largely unknown. Here, we showed that VRCZ metabolites plus UVA generated reactive oxygen species and resultant DNA damage of the epidermis, but did not induce substantial apoptosis in human keratinocytes (KCs).

The Vitamin D3 analogue calcipotriol suppresses CpG-activated TLR9-MyD88 signalling in murine plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

Background: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis by secreting interferon-α. Vitamin D3 analogues are widely used to treat psoriasis, and the representative analogue calcipotriol (CAL) uniquely downregulates the cytokine production and chemotactic activity of pDCs. However, the molecular mechanism of action of CAL is not well understood.

Sensitive skin is highly frequent in extrinsic atopic dermatitis and correlates with disease severity markers but not necessarily with skin barrier impairment.

Background: Sensitive skin is a condition of cutaneous hypersensitivity to environmental factors. Lactic acid stinging test (LAST) is commonly used to assess sensitive skin and composed of four distinct sensations (pain, burning sensation, itch, and crawly feeling). A link between sensitive skin and barrier dysfunction has been proposed in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients.

Density dependence of retention factors of trans-stilbene oxide for chiral separation by supercritical fluid chromatography.

Retention factors for two enantiomers of trans-stilbene oxide, k and k, were measured with a chiral AD-H column using two syringe pumps to feed CO and methanol as a co-solvent at various temperatures, pressures and co-solvent mole fractions to determine the effects of these operating conditions on the retention factors. The retention factors k and k are for the (R,R)- and (S,S)-forms, respectively. When the isothermal compressibilities of a mixture of CO and MeOH were lower than 0.

Distinctive downmodulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cell functions by vitamin D3 analogue calcipotriol.

Background: In relation to Th17 cell actions, interferon (IFN)-α production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Vitamin D3 analogues are widely used in the treatment of psoriasis, however, their actions on pDCs are not well understood.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Vitamin D3 analogue calcipotriol (CAL) on pDCs, focusing on the cytokine production and chemotactic activity.

Platelets Regulate the Migration of Keratinocytes via Podoplanin/CLEC-2 Signaling during Cutaneous Wound Healing in Mice.

Podoplanin is an endogenous ligand for C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2), which is expressed on platelets. Recent evidence indicates that this specific marker of lymphatic endothelial cells is also expressed by keratinocytes at the edge of wounds. However, whether podoplanin or platelets play a role in keratinocyte activity during wound healing remains unknown.

Gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 in stratum corneum is a potential marker of decreased eccrine sweating for atopic dermatitis.

It is well known that eccrine sweating is attenuated in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). We have reported by using proteome analysis that gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP15), a substance secreted from eccrine sweat glands, is decreased in tape-stripped stratum corneum (SC) samples from AD patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate GCDFP15 production by eccrine glands with SC samples and to assess sweating in AD.

Leukoderma in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is occasionally associated with vitiligo, however, the incidence and conditions of vitiligo or leukoderma, and the characteristics of concurrent AD, remain unclear. We conducted a prospective observational study to investigate the leukoderma-related clinical manifestations and bioparameters of AD. Because vitiligo in AD lesions is occasionally associated with inflammation, we used leukoderma in this study.