Background: High-throughput technologies, including DNA-chip array, have been used to search for the genes that are dysregulated in human diseases. The atopic dermatitis (AD)-associated genes are gradually being reported; however, the differentially altered gene expression profiles of atopic fibroblasts have not been well elucidated.
Objective: We wanted to gain more insights into AD and to find candidate genes, especially in regards to the role of fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of AD.
Methods: cDNA microarray (8K) profiling of the primary cultured AD patients-derived fibroblasts was conducted by a pooling method of the recruited 22 normal controls, the 10 extrinsic type (ADe) patients and the 10 intrinsic type (ADi) patients. SAM analysis of the microarray results (2-fold cut-off) was conducted to select the candidate genes. Quantification by real-time PCRs confirmed the array data in the randomized paired samples (normal vs. ADe n=10; normal vs. ADi n=10).
Results: We listed the 22 up-regulated and 95 down-regulated genes in the AD fibroblasts. Real-time PCR results showed that several genes such as hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2), TNF-alpha-induced protein 6 (TNFAIP6) and IL-8 were matched with the array results with statistical significance.
Conclusion: These results suggest gene expression profiles that are associated with AD and this implied that fibroblasts may play important roles in the AD pathogenesis. We provided new insights into three candidate genes such as HAS2, TNFAIP6 and IL-8 with respect to their involvement in AD disease.