title: Expression profile of genes associated with the dopamine pathway in vitiligo skin biopsies and blood sera.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dopamine has been proven to be toxic for melanocytes. In vitiligo patients the level of dopamine is increased and the functioning of several enzymes participating in the dopamine pathway is changed.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and ELISA the expression of genes connected to the dopamine pathway (PAH, PCD, TH, DDC, DBH, PNMT, GPX1, MAOA, MAOB, COMT, DRD1-DRD5, VMAT1 and VMAT2) was observed in vitiligo patients' and control subjects' skin and blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA expression of GPX1, DDC, MAOA, DRD1 and DRD5 differs in vitiligo skin and the protein level of DDC, MAOA, MAOB, DRD1 and DRD5 is changed in vitiligo patients' skin and/or blood sera.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dopamine pathway probably influences melanogenesis directly or through the melanocortin pathway. We provide new data about changes of expression profile of the dopamine-synthesizing enzyme DDC, the dopamine-degrading enzymes MAOA and MAOB and the D1-like family dopamine receptors in vitiligo skin and blood sera.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Ene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reimann
authors.forename: Külli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kingo
authors.forename: Maire
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karelson
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reemann
authors.forename: Ulvi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Loite
authors.forename: Maris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keermann
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abram
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.forename: Helgi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Silm
authors.forename: Sulev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kõks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004298:Dopamine