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.

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.

Repeated Amblyomma testudinarium tick bites are associated with increased galactose-α-1,3-galactose carbohydrate IgE antibody levels: A retrospective cohort study in a single institution.

Background: Alpha-gal syndrome is a hypersensitivity reaction to red meat mediated by IgE antibody specific to galactose-α-1,3-galactose carbohydrate (alpha-gal). Amblyomma tick bites are associated with this condition, but the pathophysiology is not understood.

Objective: To clarify the mechanism of development of alpha-gal syndrome after tick bites.

Topical application of a vitamin D3 analogue and corticosteroid to psoriasis plaques decreases skin infiltration of TH17 cells and their ex vivo expansion.

Background: Topical combination of a vitamin D3 analogue and corticosteroid is widely used for the treatment of psoriasis, a TH17-mediated disorder, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Objective: We investigated the effect of this topical applicant, focusing on skin-infiltrating TH17 cells.

Methods: In 10 patients with plaque psoriasis, calcipotriol (Cal), betamethasone dipropionate (Bet), or the calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate 2-compound formulation (CB) was applied to 3 different psoriatic plaques with similar severity once a day for 14 days.

Calcipotriol increases hCAP18 mRNA expression but inhibits extracellular LL37 peptide production in IL-17/IL-22-stimulated normal human epidermal keratinocytes.

Interleukins (IL)-17A and -22 are involved in the patho-genesis of psoriasis. Cathelicidin LL37 serves as not only antimicrobial peptide but also as autoinflammatory mediator. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues, such as calcipotriol, are used as topical treatment for psoriasis.