Gene expression profiling of porokeratosis.
BACKGROUND
Porokeratosis (PK) represents a heterogeneous group of disorders of keratinization and has a wide variety of clinical manifestations. PK may exhibit similarities with psoriasis at both clinical and molecular levels. The genetic basis and pathogenesis for PK remain elusive.


METHODS
We studied the transcriptional profiles of three pairwise lesional and uninvolved skin biopsies from patients with different subtypes of PK using the Illumina BeadArray platform.


RESULTS
A total of 37 upregulated genes were identified in our study, including wound-induced keratins, S100 calcium-binding protein genes involved in epidermal differentiation, as well as genes involved in mediating intercellular communication and the immune response. To our knowledge, this is the first study that characterizes the immune profile of PK lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Here, we report that keratinocytes (KCs)-harboring lesions have activated and overexpressed wound-induced keratin genes, which appear to be coregulated with other genes involved in mediating epidermal differentiation, intercellular communication and immunity. This study, from the perspective of gene profiling, supports that gene misregulation in PK mimics that of psoriasis. Our data indicate that the genes implicated in the T-cell-mediated immune response pathway and activation of KCs play a key role in the pathogenesis of PK.
Zhang
Zheng-Hua
ZH
Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. verzhang@gmail.com
Wang
Zhi-Min
ZM
Crosby
Meredith E
ME
Wang
Hai-Feng
HF
Xiang
Lei-Hong
LH
Luan
Jing
J
Gu
Chao-Ying
CY
Zhou
Jun
J
Niu
Zhen-Min
ZM
Fang
Xu
X
Huang
Wei
W
Zheng
Zhi-Zhong
ZZ
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017499:Porokeratosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007633:Keratins