Skin blotting: a noninvasive technique for evaluating physiological skin status.
OBJECTIVE
The skin performs important structural and physiological functions, and skin assessment represents an important step in identifying skin problems. Although noninvasive techniques for assessing skin status exist, no such techniques for monitoring its physiological status are available. This study aimed to develop a novel skin-assessment technique known as skin blotting, based on the leakage of secreted proteins from inside the skin following overhydration in mice. The applicability of this technique was further investigated in a clinical setting.


METHODS
Skin blotting involves 2 steps: collecting proteins by attaching a damp nitrocellulose membrane to the surface of the skin, and immunostaining the collected proteins. The authors implanted fluorescein-conjugated dextran (F-DEX)-containing agarose gels into mice and detected the tissue distribution of F-DEX under different blotting conditions. They also analyzed the correlations between inflammatory cytokine secretion and leakage following ultraviolet irradiation in mice and in relation to body mass index in humans.


RESULTS
The F-DEX in mice was distributed in the deeper and shallower layers of skin and leaked through the transfollicular and transepidermal routes, respectively. Ultraviolet irradiation induced tumor necrosis factor secretion in the epidermis in mice, which was detected by skin blotting, whereas follicular tumor necrosis factor was associated with body mass index in obese human subjects. These results support the applicability of skin blotting for skin assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Skin blotting represents a noninvasive technique for assessing skin physiology and has potential as a predictive and diagnostic tool for skin disorders.
Takeo Minematsu, PhD, is a Project Lecturer, Department of Gerontological Nursing/Wound Care Management, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan. Motoko Horii, MHS, is an Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Josai International University, Chiba, Japan. Makoto Oe, PhD, is a Project Lecturer, Department of Advanced Nursing Technology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo. Junko Sugama, PhD, is a Professor, Department of Clinical Nursing, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan. Yuko Mugita, MHS, is a Doctoral Student; Lijuan Huang, PhD, is a Project Researcher; Gojiro Nakagami, PhD, is a Lecturer; and Hiromi Sanada, PhD, is a Professor, all at the Department of Gerontological Nursing/Wound Care Management, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
Takeo
T
Minematsu
Motoko
M
Horii
Makoto
M
Oe
Junko
J
Sugama
Yuko
Y
Mugita
Lijuan
L
Huang
Gojiro
G
Nakagami
Hiromi
H
Sanada
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003911:Dextrans / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013045:Species Specificity; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
D003911:Dextrans; D005452:Fluoresceins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C052526:fluorescein-dextran