Gene expression profiling in melasma in Korean women.

Background: There has been a paucity of data about the difference in gene expression between melasma lesional skin and normal adjacent one.

Objective: Our aim was to identify novel genes involved in the pathogenesis of melasma.

Methods: We performed a microarray analysis and confirmed the results on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in Korean women with melasma.

Results: There were 334 genes whose degree of expression showed a significant difference between melasma lesional skin and normal adjacent one. Of these, five were confirmed on qRT-PCR. In melasma lesional skin, there were down-regulation of genes involved in the PPAR signaling pathway and up-regulation of genes involved in neuronal component and the functions of stratum corneum barrier.

Conclusion: This result suggests that the pathogenesis of melasma might be associated with novel genes involved in the above signaling pathway in Korean women.