title: Differential expression of genes involved in skin homing, proliferation, and apoptosis in CD4+ T cells of patients with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: CD4+ T cells play a critical role in allergic diseases, both in the affected tissue as well as systemically. Our objective was to investigate the in vivo activation state of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients by analyzing gene expression profiles of unstimulated CD4+ T cells. mRNA samples from blood CD4+ T cells, isolated from five AD patients and seven healthy controls (HC), were analyzed using oligonucleotide arrays. Differentially regulated genes were validated by quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) in a larger group of patients with AD, in a group of patients with allergic asthma (AA), and HC subjects. In addition, "typical" T helper type 1 (Th1)- and Th2-related genes were analyzed by Q-PCR. Microarray analysis revealed differential expression of 52 genes in AD patients. Q-PCR confirmed several differentially regulated genes in AD, including CCR10, CRTH2, C-JUN, and NR4A2. Two groups of genes with highly correlating gene expression levels involved in tissue homing and proliferation or apoptosis, respectively, were identified. No marked differences were found in gene expression levels of typical Th1 or Th2 genes in AD or in AA patients. This study demonstrates that peripheral blood, unstimulated CD4+ T cells in AD patients show differentially expressed genes involved in tissue homing, proliferation, and apoptosis. No marked expression differences of "typical" atopy genes were found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology & Allergology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. D.J.Hijnen@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Dirkjan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hijnen
authors.forename: Evert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nijhuis
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruin-Weller
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Holstege
authors.forename: Marian Groot
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Koerkamp
authors.forename: Ineke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bruijnzeel-Koomen
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Knol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D012313:RNA