Background: There has been a paucity of data about the difference in gene expression between melasma lesional skin and normal adjacent one. Objective: Our aim was to identify novel genes involved in the pathogenesis of melasma. Methods: We performed a microarray analysis and confirmed the results on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in Korean women with melasma. Results: There were 334 genes whose degree of expression showed a significant difference between melasma lesional skin and normal adjacent one. Of these, five were confirmed on qRT-PCR. In melasma lesional skin, there were down-regulation of genes involved in the PPAR signaling pathway and up-regulation of genes involved in neuronal component and the functions of stratum corneum barrier. Conclusion: This result suggests that the pathogenesis of melasma might be associated with novel genes involved in the above signaling pathway in Korean women.

Keywords:
Melasma, Microarray analysis, Pathogenesis
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