title: Up-regulated expression of MICA and proinflammatory cytokines in skin biopsies from patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis.
abstract: Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a disease of unknown etiopathogenesis that affects 5% of the population. In this study, we investigated expression of mRNA for IL-1 alpha, IL-6, IL-4, IFN-gamma, and the stress-inducible MICA molecule in skin biopsies from 12 patients with moderate to severe seborrhoeic dermatitis and 2 healthy volunteers by RT-PCR and hybridization with specific probes. Eight patients expressed INF-gamma, 2 expressed IL-6, 8 expressed IL-1 alpha, and 2 expressed IL-4 (1 with moderate disease). Eight patients expressed inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 alpha, IL-6, and/or IFN-gamma) in healthy skin. Higher cytokine mRNA in damaged vs healthy skin was also observed, suggesting the existence of an inflammation that predisposes healthy skin to develop overt disease. Up-regulated expression of MICA mRNA was observed in 8 patients. Although the pathogenesis of seborrhoeic dermatitis remains to be elucidated, expression of cytotoxicity-activating ligands (MICA), recruitment of NK cells, and a local pro-inflammatory microenvironment may facilitate the development of tissue injury.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunogenética, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Luciana Lorena
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Molinero
authors.forename: Mijal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woscoff
authors.forename: Norberto Walter
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Zwirner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A