Dithranol downregulates expression of Id1 mRNA in human keratinocytes in vitro.

The precise causes of psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and incomplete keratinization, are unclear. It is known that expression of helix-loop-helix transcription factor Id1, which functions as an inhibitor of differentiation, is upregulated in psoriatic skin. We investigated the effect of the antipsoriatic drug dithranol on mRNA and protein expression levels of Id1 in the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. Cultured HaCaT cells were treated with 0-0.5 µg/mL dithranol for 30 min. After 2 and 4 h, total cellular RNA and total proteins were isolated from HaCaT cells, and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to determine the mRNA and protein levels of Id1, respectively. Changes in normalized Id1 mRNA levels were observed only after 4 h of dithranol treatment. There was reduced expression of Id1 mRNA transcripts in the HaCaT cells treated with 0.1 µg/mL dithranol, but the reduction was not significant. The expression of Id1 mRNA was significantly downregulated (almost 50%) when 0.25 or 0.5 µg/mL dithranol was applied to the HaCaT cells. However, the normalized Id1 protein levels were not significantly affected. The molecular mechanisms underlying this finding should be investigated further to help determine the therapeutic action of this drug.

Effects of the antipsoriatic drug dithranol on E2A and caspase-9 gene expression in vitro.

Although the precise causes of psoriasis remain to be elucidated, psoriasis has been known as a disorder in which factors in the immune system, enzymes and other biochemical substances that regulate skin cell division are functionally imbalanced, thereby resulting in rapid proliferation of keratinocytes and incomplete keratinization. The expression of candidate genes such as E2A and caspase-9, which have been recognized to play a critical role in cellular proliferation/differentiation and apoptosis, is of great interest. They may be therapeutically targeted by the antipsoriatic drug, dithranol. We examined the molecular effects of dithranol on the mRNA and protein expression levels of E2A and caspase-9 in the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. The HaCaT cells were treated with 0-0.5 µg/mL dithranol for 30 min. After dithranol was washed out, the HaCaT cells were cultured for 2 h, and their total cellular RNA and proteins were isolated. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to determine the mRNA and protein levels of these two genes. We found that dithranol treatment in the range of 0.25-0.5 µg/mL slightly upregulated the mRNA expression of E2A and caspase-9 approximately 1.5- and 1.2-fold, respectively. However, undetectable change and minor downregulation of the protein expression levels were observed for E2A and caspase-9, respectively. Consequently, these genes appear not to be viable therapeutic targets for dithranol.

Aspectos clínicos de la alopecia areata: tratamiento tópico comparativo entre antralina y betametasona / Clinical aspects of the alopesia areata: comparative topical treatment between anthralin and betamethasane

En forma prospectiva se estudiaron los aspectos clínicos de 53 pacientes con alopecia areata. Las asociaciones más frecuentes fueron el estrés emocional agudo, los antecedentes familiares y los antecedentes personales de la enfermedad. Se realizó un estudio terapéutico comparativo entre antralina y betametasona tópica, resultando superior la antralina en forma estadísticamente significativa

Tratamento da alopécia areata: Revisäo bibliográfica de 10 anos / Treatment of alopecia areata: review bibliografic of 10 years

Os autores fazem uma revisäo do tratamento da alopécia areata durante um período de 10 anos e concluem pela näo existência ainda de um medicamento eficaz para curar esta afecçäo