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Reduced folate carrier (RFC-1) gene expression in normal and psoriatic skin.
- Source :
-
Archives of dermatological research [Arch Dermatol Res] 1998 Dec; Vol. 290 (12), pp. 656-60. - Publication Year :
- 1998
-
Abstract
- Methotrexate is widely used in the treatment of severe psoriasis. However, little is currently known about the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic activity in the skin. Methotrexate has been shown to be carried into cells through the reduced folate carrier (RFC-1). The recent cloning and characterization of the human gene encoding this transmembranal carrier enabled us to investigate RFC-1 gene expression in human skin. Biopsies were obtained from the skin of healthy and psoriatic volunteers. RNA extracted from these biopsies was analyzed by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique. While RFC-1 gene expression was barely detectable in the uninvolved skin of psoriatic patients and in the skin of healthy volunteers, high levels of RFC-1 transcripts were found in biopsies obtained from psoriatic plaques. To further investigate this pattern of gene expression, we studied skin biopsies by in situ hybridization with a labeled antisense riboprobe specific for the RFC-1 gene. The RFC-1 gene was found to be weakly expressed in the epidermis, in biopsies obtained from the skin of healthy subjects as well as in those from the uninvolved skin of psoriatic patients. In contrast, in biopsies obtained from psoriatic plaques, high levels of RFC-1 gene transcripts were found mostly in the spinous layer of the epidermis. These results suggest the existence of a specific methotrexate carrier in the human epidermis, and may bear relevance to the cutaneous manifestations of methotrexate toxicity.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Cell Line
Female
Humans
Male
Methotrexate metabolism
Middle Aged
RNA, Messenger analysis
Reduced Folate Carrier Protein
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Carrier Proteins genetics
Folic Acid metabolism
Membrane Proteins
Membrane Transport Proteins
Psoriasis metabolism
Skin metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0340-3696
- Volume :
- 290
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Archives of dermatological research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9879834
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s004030050369