Dermatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dermatitis, including details on contact-, seborrheic-, atopic-, allergic-dermatitis, treatment.

Gene expression and regulation of nerve growth factor in atopic dermatitis mast cells and the human mast cell line-1.

Groneberg DA, Serowka F, Peckenschneider N, Artuc M, Grützkau A, Fischer A, Henz BM, Welker P

Allergy-Centre-Charité, Charité School of Medicine, Free and Humboldt University, Augustenburger Platz 1 OR-1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany. david.groneberg@charite.de

The gene expression and regulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) in atopic dermatitis (AD) and the human mast cell line (HMC)-1 was investigated at the molecular level. NGF-stimulation of HMC-1 cells resulted in increases in tryptase activity and histamine contents, paralleled by an increase of tryptase and histamine at the transcriptional level. Also, an increased expression of NGF was found in AD lesions, in association with increased systemic NGF plasma levels. Further cutaneous sources for increased NGF levels were keratinocytes and fibroblasts. These findings demonstrate an increased expression of NGF in AD and effects on tryptase and histamine. Mast cells may be major mediators of neurotrophin effects in AD.

Published 7 March 2005 in J Neuroimmunol, 161(1): 87-92.
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