Changing paradigms in dermatology: proteomics: a new approach to skin disease

Completion of the human genome sequence in 2001 heralded a new age in the understanding of cellular function. By eliminating the need for meticulous nucleotide identification of suspect proteins, a short segment can be identified and, within seconds the remaining sequences culled. Now, investigations can be more specifically targeted at the proteins themselves. Unlike the one gene, one protein approach of years past, proteomics is the field of unraveling the vast network of protein interactions within living cells. Recently, certain dermatologic conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, have been shown to be the result of immune deregulation. By better understanding the proteins responsible for immune system function, targeted disruptions can alter tissue responses. It is in this vein that proteomics attempts to understand cellular regulation for the eventual therapeutic modification of biologic behavior.