title: Neuropeptides concentrations in the skin of a murine (NC/Nga mice) model of atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been reported that the expression of neuropeptides (NPs), and the density and structure of peripheral nerves in atopic dermatitis (AD) are different from those in normal skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the role of NPs, in the development of AD with quantitative study of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the skin of AD-model mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the NPs in the skin of mice (NC/Nga as AD-model mice, BALB/c and C57BL/6 as control) by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA). Peripheral nerve fibers and SP in the skin were stained by immunohistochemical staining, using anti-PGP9.5 antibody and anti-SP antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under conventional condition, SP concentration in AD-like skin lesions of NC/Nga mice was higher than that in non-affected skin of the same mice. Under specific pathogen-free condition, SP concentration in the skin of NC/Nga mice was higher than that in the skin of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, CGRP concentration in the skin lesions was lower than that in non-affected skin of NC/Nga mice. SP was detected not only in the nerve fibers in the dermis but also in mast cells in the inflammatory areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The skin of NC/Nga mice contains more SP congenitally, and environmental factors may aggravate this abnormal condition. We hypothesize that increase of SP accompanied with a decrease of CGRP in the skin may play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Immuno-Dermatology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Japan. yamadama@urahp.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katsuno
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osuna
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hosoi
authors.forename: Motokazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Zenro
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ikezawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001415:Back; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide