Elevated serum galectin-9 levels in patients with atopic dermatitis.
Galectin-9 is a member of the galectin family that has a wide spectrum of biological functions. Among them, galectin-9 has been known mainly as a potent chemoattractant for eosinophils. In addition, galectin-9 alters the T-cell balance by negatively regulating T-helper (Th)1 and Th17 cells, resulting in Th2 polarization. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin allergic disease characterized by peripheral eosinophilia, mast cell activation and predominance of Th2 cells. To investigate possible roles of galectin-9 in AD, we measured serum galectin-9 levels in AD patients and investigated galectin-9 expression in lesional skin by immunohistochemistry. Serum galectin-9 levels in patients with AD were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and correlated with the Eczema Area and Severity Index. Serum galectin-9 levels were decreased after treatment, accompanied by improvement of skin lesions. Immunohistochemical study revealed that galectin-9 was expressed on epidermal keratinocytes and mast cells in lesional skin of AD. Our results suggest that elevated galectin-9 expression is associated with progression of AD and that galectin-9 could be a therapeutic target in AD.
['Nakajima|Rina|R|', 'Miyagaki|Tomomitsu|T|', 'Oka|Tomonori|T|', 'Nakao|Momoko|M|', 'Kawaguchi|Makiko|M|', 'Suga|Hiraku|H|', 'Morimura|Sohshi|S|', 'Kai|Hiromichi|H|', 'Asano|Yoshihide|Y|', 'Tada|Yayoi|Y|', 'Kadono|Takafumi|T|', 'Sato|Shinichi|S|', 'Sugaya|Makoto|M|']
D000328:Adult D016022:Case-Control Studies D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic D005260:Female D037161:Galectins D006801:Humans D015603:Keratinocytes D008297:Male D008407:Mast Cells D012720:Severity of Illness Index
galectin-9 atopic dermatitis mast cells Eczema Area and Severity Index epidermal keratinocytes