Analysis of highly expressed genes in monocytes from atopic dermatitis patients.
BACKGROUND
Monocytes, macrophages, and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are key effectors of both innate and acquired immune responses. Such cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of some inflammatory diseases. Differential gene expression in CD14-positive cells from patients with atomic dermatitis (AD) was studied using real-time quantitative RT-PCR to measure transcription levels of selected genes.


METHODS
PBMCs were prepared by Ficoll gradient separation from 30 AD patients (the anti-mite-specific IgE RAST score: 0.75 to >100 UA/ml) and 10 healthy adult individuals (the RAST score: <0.34-0.37 UA/ml) and CD14-positive cells were selected. A total of 64 genes was selected for study from groups of genes with different molecular function.


RESULTS
Genes involved in MHC class I antigen presentation, such as beta(2)-microglobulin, subunits of an immunoproteasome and ATP-binding cassette transporter TAP2 were expressed at higher levels in the AD patients than in the healthy controls. The genes for Toll-like receptors, CD36 and IFNgamma receptor were also upregulated in the AD patients. These genes are involved in MHC class I antigen presentation, recognition of bacterial pathogens and apoptotic cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The upregulation of genes suggests that circulating monocytes in AD patients may be primed to differentiate into effector cells by conditions associated with AD. The upregulation of genes may prove to be a useful marker for AD.
Nagata
Naoko
N
Genox Research Inc., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Oshida
Tadahilo
T
Yoshida
Ning Lu
NL
Yuyama
Noriko
N
Sugita
Yuji
Y
Tsujimoto
Gozoh
G
Katsunuma
Toshio
T
Akasawa
Akira
A
Saito
Hirohisa
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor
D018955:CD36 Antigens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor; C095888:xeroderma pigmentosum group F protein