title: Characterization of cationic amino acid transporters (hCATs) 1 and 2 in human skin.
abstract: In the present study, we characterized the distribution of human cationic amino acid transporters 1 (hCAT1) and 2 (hCAT2) in healthy skin and compared it to psoriatic skin lesions by means of immunohistochemistry. Moreover, we tested the hypothesis that L -arginine and L -ornithine influence the expression and synthesis of hCAT1 and hCAT2 in cell culture experiments by means of real-time-PCR and Western blot. Immunohistochemical comparison between healthy and psoriatic skin revealed a decreased amount of hCAT1, especially in the stratum granulosum of psoriatic skin; the distribution pattern of hCAT2 was not significantly affected in psoriatic skin. Cell culture experiments showed that supraphysiological concentrations of 15 mM L -arginine (72 h) lead to a significant increase of the hCAT1-mRNA and protein expression, whereas other concentrations had no significant influence. In contrast, L -arginine concentrations of 2 mM led to a significant increase of the hCAT2B mRNA-expression after 24 h. However, 48 and 72 h revealed no significant changes and high concentrations (15 mM L -arginine) led to a significant downregulation of the hCAT2B transporter over all time points analyzed. L -ornithine had no effect on the hCAT1 expression of mRNA and protein level. On the other hand the expression of hCAT2B was significantly up regulated at a 5-mM concentration of L -ornithine at all analyzed time points. Other concentrations had no effect. For the first time, the findings yield data about hCAT1 and hCAT2 on protein-level and suggest that L -arginine is a worthwhile object of studies, which investigated L -arginine as a possible therapeutic agent to reduce psoriatic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Grosse Steinstrasse 52, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wohlrab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D027201:Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D027202:Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009952:Ornithine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D027201:Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 1; D027202:Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001120:Arginine; D009952:Ornithine