Gene expression profiling of skin and draining lymph nodes of rats affected with cutaneous contact hypersensitivity

Abstract

The present study aimed at a broad genome expression analysis of rat skin and draining lymph nodes affected with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). ACD was elicited in sensitized SD rats with 0.5% 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene on skin areas distant from the sensitization sites. Involved skin and lymph nodes were dissected 8 and 24 h after challenge. RNA was hybridized on Affymetrix GeneChips. Expression data were analyzed with the GeneSpring software. Expression of 1,882 out of 8,799 examined genes in skin or lymph nodes was significantly (p < or = 0.01) changed compared to levels in normal tissue. After an additional 2- fold filtering, four expression patterns were selected and interpreted. Prominently up-regulated genes were IL-6, CCR-5, CCL-2, CCL-3, CXCL-1, CXCL-10, TIMP-1, OX-40, calgranulin b, ST2, beta-defensin, iNOS, STAT-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-12, and MMP-13. In addition to previously reported transcript changes, the present findings suggest/support that plasma cells, mast cells, and a specific IFN-gamma pathway play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of ACD.