title: Expression of allograft inflammatory factor-1 in inflammatory skin disorders.
abstract: Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is an evolutionarily conserved, inflammatory protein produced by activated macrophages during chronic transplant rejection and in inflammatory brain lesions. Since T-cell-mediated inflammation is common to various dermatoses and nothing is known about AIF-1 in skin, we studied its protein expression at the tissue level and regulation in monocytic cell lines by various agents. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that AIF-1 is expressed at low levels in normal skin, but is highly upregulated in various inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis, lichen planus, graft-versus-host disease and mycosis fungoides. The main cell types expressing AIF-1 in affected skin are macrophages and Langerhans' cells. We also show by real-time PCR that AIF-1 mRNA levels in monocytic THP-1 and U937 cell lines are significantly upregulated by retinoic acid as well as a number of cytokines. We conclude that AIF-1 may mediate survival and pro-inflammatory properties of macrophages in skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. christina.orsmark@biosci.ki.se
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orsmark
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skoog
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jeskanen
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kere
authors.forename: Ulpu
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Saarialho-Kere
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C112986:AIF1 protein, human; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014212:Tretinoin; D003907:Dexamethasone