Heat shock protein HSP40 family chaperone DNAJB6/MRJ expression analysis in blood cells obtained from patients with atopic dermatitis in different phases.

Heat shock protein HSP40 family molecular chaperone DNAJB6/MRJ expression has been analyzed in blood cells of patients with atopic dermatitis compared with healthy donors. Severity of disease was estimated according index SCORAD.

Methods: Peripheral blood cells were separated using Percoll density gradient. Purified neutrophils and lymphocytes have been stained with antibodies to the heat shock protein DNAJB6/MRJ. Cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. Real time PCR method has been used to verify the bacterial contamination of the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA.

Results: Expression of DNAJB6/MRJ protein has been found to be elevated in all samples of cells obtained from patients with atopic dermatitis. The highest level of the DNAJB6/MRJ protein expression was shown in neutrophils at the acute phase of severe atopic dermatitis. DNAJB6/MRJ protein expression in lymphocytes of patients with atopic patients was less extensive compared with neutrophil level and was shown to be higher at subacute phase of disease. The DNAJB6/MRJ protein expression was found to be statistically significant higher in lymphocytes from atopic patients compared with healthy donors. The bacterial contamination of skin (verified by PCR) was shown to influence the DNAJB6/MRJ protein level in lymphocytes of atopic dermatitis patients.

Conclusion: Expression of the heat shock protein DNAJB6/MRJ was elevated in neutrophils and lymphocytes of patients with atopic dermatitis compared with healthy donors. The highest level of the DNAJB6/MRJ protein was found to be in neutrophils at acute phase of severe atopic dermatitis and gradually decline as continue to the disease.