Premium
A DNA array project for hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa
Author(s) -
Fimmel Sabine,
Makrantonaki Evgenia,
Zouboulis Christos C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.0906-6705.2006.0436f.x
Subject(s) - hidradenitis suppurativa , apocrine , acne , medicine , androgen , endocrinology , dermatology , biology , disease , hormone , pathology
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)/acne inversa (AI) is a chronic skin disorder involving the apocrine glandular zones, where inflammation of sebaceous glands and terminal hair follicles can be identified. The exact aetiology of HS/AI is unclear. The reported incidence is 1:300 with a female‐to‐male predominance of 4:1. There is an apparent strong influence of sex hormones on HS/AI and association with acne vulgaris and hirsutism. The disease occurs at post puberty and disease activity declines at the climacteric, whereas improvement is seen during pregnancy. Most HS/AI patients have normal androgen profiles and apocrine glands, nevertheless, there have been reports of symptomatic improvement with the use of anti‐androgen therapy. This DNA array project studies differences in gene expression of axillary apocrine secretory cells in vivo, between HS/AI patients and controls. Additionally, the gene expression pattern in axillary apocrine secretory cells of age‐matched men and pre‐ vs. post‐menopausal women is evaluated to identify those genes, whose expression is linked to circulating androgen levels, and highlights any gender/age differences in apocrine gland function. These experiments will further identify genes and biochemical pathways that could act as new targets for classical drugs and also targets for siRNA molecules in the treatment of HS/AI.