Gene Mutation For Skin hyperproliferation

According to Science Daily, a scientist from A*STAR’s intuition of Medical Biology (IMB), identified gene mutation that cause a skin disorder called skin hyper proliferation.  Scientists called this rare skin disorder “The Tree Man” because somewhat it looks like a bark of the tree. Skin hyper proliferation causes profuse patches on skin of soles and palm. However, this disorder was found very rare among people who live on Indonesian. Gradually, these patches will escalated as person age and frequently unite in larger scratches. Researchers called this skin disorder as “Punctate palmoplantar kertoderma” because it effect on gene AAGAB. Punctate PPK is very rare autosomal dominant cutaneous disorder affected by extreme formation of keratin on the skin of palm and soles.

            By analysis the DNA from 18 different families, researchers found that gene AAGAB encode a protein P34 which had a characteristic to control the cell division on skin. Reduction on AAGAB gene tends to defect on p34 protein which caused to intensified cell proliferation on the epidermis. Due to the higher growth signals of epidermis growth factor receptor, it distracted feature of abnormal cell proliferation and PPK may start to form hyperprofileration.  However, researchers said that, finding of EGFR is a trademark of skin cancer and it is a fragment of the hyper proliferation of scratches in PPK patients. I hope reseraches would find better treatment or gene therapy to cure this disorder, because it is very painful for peopel who had this diorder while they walk or use their hand.