Tape stripping methods for analysis of skin disease and pathological skin state

• US 7,989,165 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DermTech International
• Original Assignee: DermTech International
• Inventors: Benson, Nicholas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHISENANT, ETHAN C
• Application Number:
  US11/710,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20070202540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6, 435/7.1, 530/350
• US Class Current: 435/6.17
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6883 for diseases caused by alterations of genetic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2600/158 Expression markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2813 Producing thin layers of samples on a substrate, e.g. smearing, spinning-on G01N1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/20 Dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/202 Dermatitis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/205 Scaling palpular diseases, e.g. psoriasis, pytiriasis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/52 Predicting or monitoring the response to treatment, e.g. for selection of therapy based on assay results in personalised medicine; Prognosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6881 from skin

Abstract

The present invention provides non-invasive methods for detecting, monitoring, and diagnosing skin disease and pathological skin states such as irritated skin and psoriasis. The methods include using tape stripping to analyze expression in epidermal samples, of one or more skin markers. In illustrative examples, the tape stripping is performed using pliable tape that has a rubber adhesive. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for predicting and monitoring response to therapy for a skin disease, such as psoriasis or dermatitis. Finally, the methods can include the use of a microarray.

Claims

1. A non-invasive method for isolating or detecting a protein from an epidermal sample of a human subject, comprising:

a) applying an adhesive tape to a target area of the skin of the subject in a manner sufficient to isolate an epidermal sample adhering to the adhesive tape, wherein the epidermal sample comprises cells from the stratum corneum of the subject, and wherein the tape comprises a rubber adhesive;

b) lysing the cells to extract at least one protein selected from the group consisting of MGSA, TNFα

, IFNγ

, CD2, IL-12B, Krt-16, Krt-17, IL-23A, and an expression product of a gene listed in Table VI; and

c) isolating or detecting a protein in the epidermal sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tape comprises a rubber adhesive on a polyurethane film.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein about one to ten adhesive tapes are applied and removed from the skin.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein about one to eight adhesive tapes are applied and removed from the skin.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein about one to five adhesive tapes are applied and removed from the skin.