Evaluation of Gene Expression Using a Skin Tape Stripping Method

Abstract

E S D A Y 848 Evaluation of Gene Expression Using a Skin Tape Stripping Method Byung Eui Kim, MD, PhD, Un Ha Lee, Peter Sang Kim, Donald Y. M. Leung, MD, PhD, FAAAAI; National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, Inje University, Paik Hospital, National Jewish Health. RATIONALE: Skin tape stripping is a non-invasive method used to evaluate epidermal protein expression. However, this technique has not been verified whether this skill is reliable to evaluate gene expression. METHODS: Skin tape stripping samples and skin punch biopsies were collected from 10 normal subjects and 10 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Total RNAwas isolated from the same donors for skin tape stripping samples and skin biopsies, and then real time RT-PCR was performed for filaggrin (FLG), thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and loricrin (LOR). RESULTS: FLG gene expression was significantly decreased in lesional AD skin compared with skin from normal subjects in both tape stripping samples (P<0.05) and skin biopsies (P<0.05). LOR gene expression was also significantly decreased in lesional AD skin compared with skin from normal subjects in skin tape stripping samples (P<0.01) and skin biopsies (P<0.05). Additionally, LOR gene expression was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in nonlesional AD skin compared with normal subjects in tape stripping samples. TSLP gene expression from tape stripped samples was significantly increased in lesional AD skin compared with skin from normal subjects (P<0.05) and nonlesional AD (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using PCR data from both tape stripping samples and skin biopsies, we have found reduced filaggrin and loricrin, but increased TSLP, gene expression in AD. Skin tape stripping method may be used to examine gene expression in the skin since it is a non-invasive, and can be used for serial evaluation of the skin and protein expression. However, further study is required to validate this method.