title: Effects of UVA1 Phototherapy on Expression of Human Endogenous Retroviral Sequence (HERV)-K10 gag in Morphea: A Preliminary Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a rare autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by skin fibrosis. UVA1 phototherapy is an important asset in the reduction of clinical manifestations in morphea. There are studies claiming that UV light modulates the expression of some human endogenous retroviral sequences. The aim of this study was to determine if the expression of HERV-K10 gag element is lowered by UVA1 phototherapy in morphea, a disease in which such irradiation has a soothing effect. MATERIAL AND METHODS The expression levels of the HERV-K10 gag were assessed by real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and skin-punch biopsies of healthy volunteers and 9 morphea patients before and after phototherapy. Additionally, correlations between the HERV-K10 gag expression and age, disease duration, the Localized Scleroderma Skin Severity Index (LoSSI), and antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers were assessed. RESULTS In PBMC, HERV-K10 gag mRNA was significantly elevated after UVA1 phototherapy compared to healthy controls. Most of the patients responded with an increased expression level of this sequence. However, we found no statistical evidence at this point that phototherapy indeed has an effect on the HERV-K10 gag expression (there were no statistical differences in PBMC of morphea patients before and after phototherapy). Similarly, there was no statistically relevant effect of the UVA1 on the expression of HERV-K10 gag in skin. CONCLUSIONS At this point, the effect of UVA1 phototherapy on the expression of HERV-K10 gag cannot be statistically confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Psoriasis and Novel Therapies in Dermatology Unit, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał Jacek
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teresiak-Mikołajczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dańczak-Pazdrowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Psoriasis and Novel Therapies in Dermatology Unit, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Żaba
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Zygmunt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Adamski
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osmola-Mańkowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015683:Gene Products, gag; C465545:HERV-K10gag protein, K10 retrovirus; D012333:RNA, Messenger