title: Topical all-trans retinoic acid (RA) induces an early, coordinated increase in RA-inducible skin-specific gene/psoriasin and cellular RA-binding protein II mRNA levels which precedes skin erythema.
abstract: Separation of specific and nonspecific "irritant" effects of topical all-trans retinoic acid (RA) is a key to understanding the mechanism of retinoid action in skin. Cellular RA-binding protein (CRABP) II has been found to be a marker of RA activity in human skin. We have also previously identified a skin-specific gene (RIS-1/psoriasin) which is rapidly induced in human skin treated with RA. Here we compared the kinetics and time-course of RIS-1 and CRABP II gene activation by RA, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a classical irritant, and their vehicle (VH), using a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RIS-1 and CRABP II were both expressed at very low levels in untreated normal human skin, and in RA-treated skin the kinetics and time course of RIS-1 and CRABP II mRNA induction were similar. Relative to VH-treated skin, RA induced RIS-1 mRNA levels within 6 h, which further increased to 6.4-fold by 24 h (n = 4). Similarly, CRABP II mRNA levels increased from 2.6-fold at 6 h to 7.8-fold after 24 h. At 48 h the relative mRNA levels for both genes decreased towards the steady-state levels. Relative to SLS-treated skin, RIS-1 mRNA increased by 3.2-fold after 6 h and by 5.1-fold after 12 h (n = 3). Also, a 2.6-fold higher CRABP II mRNA observed after 6 h increased to 6-fold after 12 h. After 24 and 48 h RA treatment the relative mRNA levels for both genes decreased towards the steady-state levels. RA-induced skin erythema was not obvious until 24 to 48 h. We conclude, therefore, that induction of RIS-1 and CRABP II mRNA levels by topical RA in human skin are early, coordinated molecular events which precede the clinical cutaneous erythematous response to RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Benjamin Franklin, Free University of Berlin, Germany. zoubbere@fub46.zedat.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zouboulis
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Voorhees
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Orfanos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavakkol
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D001483:Base Sequence; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; D009418:S100 Proteins; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000075023:S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7; D009418:S100 Proteins; C089242:S100A7 protein, human; C082928:retinoic acid binding protein II, cellular; D014212:Tretinoin