What's New in Dermatological Research?
December 2008
in “
Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie
”
polyomavirus Merkel cell carcinoma micro-RNAs skin inflammation IL-17 CD4+ T cells atopic dermatitis β-defensins psoriasis alopecia areata dendritic cells mast cells sebocytes androgenetic alopecia hair pigmentation skin pigmentation Merkel cell cancer microRNAs immune cells genetic susceptibility hair loss skin color
TLDR Recent dermatological research highlights include new virus discoveries, genetic links to skin conditions, and insights into skin healing and pigmentation.
The document discussed several dermatological research findings from 2008. Key highlights included the role of polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma, the regulatory function of micro-RNAs in skin inflammation, and the discovery of a new virus, Spoutnik, affecting larger viruses. It also covered the involvement of dot-cells in scarless fetal skin healing, the pathogenic role of IL-17 producing CD4+ T cells in atopic dermatitis, and the genetic susceptibility to psoriasis linked to β-defensins. Additionally, it explored the autoimmune nature of alopecia areata, the role of dendritic cells in psoriasis, and the antimicrobial function of mast cells and sebocytes. A significant finding was the identification of a susceptibility locus at 20p11 for androgenetic alopecia, affecting 40% of adults, and the genetic determinants of hair and skin pigmentation.
