title: Overexpression of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein type II (CRABP-II) and down-regulation of CRABP-I in psoriatic skin.
abstract: Cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins (CRABPs) might exert a physiological function by controlling the intracellular levels of free retinoic acid. The aim of this study was to analyze the relative expression of CRABP-I and CRABP-II in lesional (LPS) and nonlesional (NLPS) psoriatic skin. CRABP-I and -II proteins were analyzed by a PAGE-autoradioblotting technique, and their respective mRNA were studied by RNA blot and in situ hybridization. We found that CRABP-II levels were 6-fold higher in LPS and 2-fold in NLPS as compared to normal skin, whereas CRABP-I levels were decreased in NLPS and LPS. CRABP-II mRNA were grossly overexpressed in all LPS and some NLPS specimens. These results indicate a switch to the overexpression of CRABP-II mRNA in psoriasis which induces high levels of the protein mainly in LPS; these observations may be relevant to the pathophysiology and therapy of psoriasis as CRABP-I and -II have different ligand-binding affinities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siegenthaler
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tomatis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Didierjean
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaconi
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Saurat
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid