Activation of RhoA, Smad2, c-Src, PKC-βII/δ and JNK in atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is a multifactorial skin disease characterised by chronic and relapsing inflammation whose pathogenesis is incompletely understood. We found that the expression of TGFβR1 and the activation of SMAD2, RhoA, JNK, PKC-βII/δ and c-Src were upregulated in the infiltrated inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and vasculatures in the dermis and epidermis. In addition, increases in the expression of TGFβR1 and phosphorylation levels of JNK and c-Src were positively correlated with the inflammatory progression of atopic dermatitis severity.