title: Demonstration of TARC and CCR4 mRNA expression and distribution using in situ RT-PCR in the lesional skin of atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and its receptor, CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), have been proven to be involved in a number of allergic diseases, especially atopic dermatitis (AD). The purpose of this study was to examine the expression and distribution of TARC and CCR4 mRNAs in samples of AD (n=15, acute lesions 8, chronic lesions 7) and normal skin (n=6). The expression and distribution of TARC and CCR4 mRNAs were detected with the in situ reverse transcription (RT) -polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. TARC mRNA was expressed in epidermal keratinocytes, dermal endothelial cells and infiltrating cells. CCR4 mRNA was expressed in dermal endothelial cells and infiltrating cells. In acute AD lesional skin, there were more positive cells, and the staining intensity was stronger than in chronic lesions (p<0.05). The distribution of positive cells was as follows: In the epidermis, keratinocytes in the basal layer showed the strongest staining, and keratinocytes in the spinous layer showed moderate staining; the superficial area showed faint staining. In the dermis, infiltrating cells located in the superficial area of the dermis showed the strongest staining, positive staining intensity became weaker and the percentage of positive cells became less as the location became deeper. There were no positive cells in normal skin. These data further substantiate the role of TARC/CCR4 in the pathogenesis of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Xueyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishibu
authors.forename: Masabumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tojo
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kakinuma
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamaki
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D054398:Receptors, CCR4; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: C106230:CCL17 protein, human; C515354:CCR4 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054398:Receptors, CCR4; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine