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Long-term treatment with moisturizers affects the mRNA levels of genes involved in keratinocyte differentiation and desquamation

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Abstract

In a recent study, we showed that long-term treatment with two different moisturizers affected TEWL in opposite directions. Therefore, we decided to examine the effect of these moisturizers on the cellular and molecular level. In a randomized controlled study on 20 volunteers, epidermal mRNA expression of genes essential for keratinocyte differentiation and desquamation after a 7-week treatment with two moisturizers was analyzed. Treatment with one test moisturizer increased gene expression of involucrin, transglutaminase 1, kallikrein 5, and kallikrein 7, while the other moisturizer affected only expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A. Thus, moisturizers are able to modify the skin barrier function and change the mRNA expression of certain epidermal genes. Since the type of influence depends on the composition of the moisturizer, these should be tailored in accordance with the requirement of the barrier of each individual patient, which merits further investigations.

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Abbreviations

IVL:

Involucrin

TGM1:

Transglutaminase 1

FLG:

Profilaggrin

CDKN1A:

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A

KLK5:

Kallikrein 5 (stratum corneum tryptic enzyme)

KLK7:

Kallikrein 7 (stratum corneum chymotryptic enzyme)

IL1A:

Interleukin-1α

ACTB:

β-actin

TEWL:

Transepidermal water loss

SLS:

Sodium lauryl sulfate

mRNA:

Messenger RNA

QRT-PCR:

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

RT:

Reverse transcription

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

DAPI:

4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by ACO HUD NORDIC AB, Stockholm and Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden and the Welander and Finsen Foundation. We would like to thank Inger Pihl-Lundin, Uppsala University, for technical assistance.

Conflict of interest statement

Buraczewska I. and Lodén M. are employed by ACO HUD NORDIC AB, Stockholm, Sweden, which sponsored the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Sciences, Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden

    Izabela Buraczewska, Berit Berne & Hans Törmä

  2. ACO HUD NORDIC AB, Box 622, 194 26, Upplands Väsby, Sweden

    Izabela Buraczewska & Marie Lodén

  3. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Örebro, 701 85, Örebro, Sweden

    Magnus Lindberg

  4. Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Karolinska Institute, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Magnus Lindberg

Authors
  1. Izabela Buraczewska
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  2. Berit Berne
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  3. Magnus Lindberg
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  4. Marie Lodén
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  5. Hans Törmä
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hans Törmä.

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Buraczewska, I., Berne, B., Lindberg, M. et al. Long-term treatment with moisturizers affects the mRNA levels of genes involved in keratinocyte differentiation and desquamation. Arch Dermatol Res 301, 175–181 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-008-0906-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-008-0906-6

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