Abstract

Skinomics: Microarrays in Dermatology and Skin Biology

Miroslav Blumenberg, Associate Professor, NYU Langone Medical Center

Recent years witnessed the birth of ‘omics’ technologies that address comprehensively the entire genome, transcriptome, proteome, microbiome etc. Impetus for development of omics was the development of DNA microarrays for transcriptional profiling. Because of its accessibility, skin was among the first organs analyzed using DNA microarrays, and dermatology among first medical disciplines to embrace the approach. The most studied skin disease has been, unsurprisingly, melanoma; markers of melanoma progression, metastatic potential and even melanoma markers in blood have been defined. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas have also been intensely studied. Psoriasis has been comprehensively explored using DNA microarrays, transcriptional changes correlated with genomic markers and several signaling pathways important in psoriasis have been identified. Atopic dermatitis, wound healing, keloids etc. have been analyzed using microarrays. Noninvasive skin sampling for microarray studies has been developed. Simultaneously, epidermal keratinocytes have been the subject of many studies because they respond to a rich variety of inflammatory and immunomodulating cytokines, hormones, vitamins, UV light, toxins and physical injury. The transcriptional changes occurring during epidermal differentiation have been identified and characterized. Recent studies identified the genes expressed in epidermal stem cells. Soon, microarrays and related ‘omics’ techniques will be applicable to the personalized dermatology practice of the future.