The aim of this proposal is to examine the involvement of defensins, a family of antibacterial peptides, in the etiology of acne. Acne is an inflammation of the pilosebaceous duct in the skin and afflicts a great number of adolescents, male and female, until early adulthood. The cause of acne is believed to be an increased sebum production, followed by colonization of the pilosebaceous duct by bacteria and an inflammatory reaction to the bacteria. While circulating androgens have been identified as a factor contributing to acne, they cannot be the only factor. The purpose of this proposal is to explore a different approach to studying acne, which, somewhat surprisingly, has not yet been mentioned in the1iterature. There is a growing awareness of the role of defensins and possibly other antibacterial peptides in the overall defense of the immune system against microbial invaders. The proposed experiments serve to examine the production of defensins in the sebaceous gland, with the goal of determining to which extent defensin levels may differ in normal skin and in acne. A long-term goal would be to find a method to enhance the production of endogenous defensins (or prevent their potential downregulation), or to treat the infected tissue with exogenous defensins.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
5P30AR042687-08
Application #
6463602
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAR1)
Project Start
1994-03-01
Project End
2004-04-30
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Type
DUNS #
042250712
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Arbiser, Jack L; Bonner, Michael Y; Gilbert, Linda C (2017) Targeting the duality of cancer. NPJ Precis Oncol 1:
Pleniceanu, Oren; Shukrun, Racheli; Omer, Dorit et al. (2017) Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR?) is central to the initiation and propagation of human angiomyolipoma, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target EMBO Mol Med 9:508-530
Díaz, Begoña; Ostapoff, Katherine T; Toombs, Jason E et al. (2016) Tris DBA palladium is highly effective against growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer in an orthotopic model. Oncotarget 7:51569-51580
Laidlaw, Kamilla M E; Berhan, Samuel; Liu, Suhu et al. (2016) Cooperation of imipramine blue and tyrosine kinase blockade demonstrates activity against chronic myeloid leukemia. Oncotarget 7:51651-51664
Bhandarkar, Sulochana S; Lanka, Padmavathy; Lanka, Lakshmana Rao et al. (2016) Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis lesions exhibit a greater microvessel count than lupus vulgaris lesions. Exp Dermatol 25:479-80
Costa, Adilson; Bonner, Michael Yi; Arbiser, Jack L (2016) Use of Polyphenolic Compounds in Dermatologic Oncology. Am J Clin Dermatol 17:369-85
Bonner, Michael Y; Karlsson, Isabella; Rodolfo, Monica et al. (2016) Honokiol bis-dichloroacetate (Honokiol DCA) demonstrates activity in vemurafenib-resistant melanoma in vivo. Oncotarget 7:12857-68
Arbiser, Jack L; Bonner, Michael Y (2016) Seborrheic Keratoses: The Rodney Dangerfield of Skin lesions, and Why They Should Get Our Respect. J Invest Dermatol 136:564-566
Arbiser, Jack L (2014) PHIPing out: a genetic basis for tumor ulceration. J Invest Dermatol 134:600-602
Spence-Shishido, Allyson; Carr, Christopher; Bonner, Michael Y et al. (2013) In vivo Gram staining of tinea versicolor. JAMA Dermatol 149:991-2

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