OUR MISSION IS TO FIND A CURE FOR LICHEN SCLEROSUS AND GIVE LIVES BACK TO MILLIONS OF WOMEN
We, at LSBioscience LLC, aim to discover genomic and proteomic biomarkers that can be targeted for highly effective and specific treatments with minimal or no side effects. Our ultimate goal is to cure LS and prevent its onset.
We have been working on LS research over a decade with an ultimate goal of finding a cure for LS, by deciphering the role of candidate miRNA/mRNA biomarkers and validate their potential clinical utility in order to develop novel therapies for LS and potential other closely related skin disorders, such as vitiligo.
We identified differentially expressed miRNAs between lichen sclerosus and matched adjacent normal tissue used the next-generation sequencing technology. Bioinformatics analysis revealed molecular networks that may shed light on the pathogenesis of LS. Functional studies demonstrated that a forced expression of miR-142-5p in human dermal fibroblast PCS-201-010 cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation and migration. These findings suggest that differentially expressed miRNAs may play an important role in LS pathogenesis; therefore, they could serve as biomarkers for LS management. Most importantly, we identified a few compounds that showed significant pharmacological activities with no toxicity in cultured cells, which could be used as effective therapeutic agents for LS.
Here you can read our latest research paper detailing our latest findings
Based on our extensive research, we developed DermGreen®, a highly effective, natural plant-based supplement, designed to cure LS and has no toxic side effects. Upon application, DermGreen® cream rapidly penetrates the skin, providing immediate relief from symptoms such as itching and pain in distressed areas through its anti-infective anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. More importantly, DermGreen® cream stimulates fibroblast growth factor, promotes skin repair, maintains structural tissue integrity and helps prevent LS-related carcinogenesis.
1. An autoimmunopathogenenic and genomic enigma with emerging genetic and immune targets.
Tran DA, Tan X, Macri CJ, Goldstein AT and Fu SW. Lichen Scerosus: Int. J. Biol. Sci. online date 2019-4-15; doi:10.7150/ijbs.34613.
Abstract
Lichen sclerosus (LS) is an inflammatory dermatosis with a predilection for anogenital skin. Developing lesions lead to vulvar pain and sexual dysfunction, with a significant loss of structural anatomical architecture, sclerosis, and increased risk of malignancy. Onset may occur at any age in both sexes, but typically affects more females than males, presenting in a bimodal fashion among pre-pubertal children and middle-aged adults. A definitive cure remains elusive as the exact pathogenesis of LS remains unknown. A general review of LS, histologic challenges, along with amounting support for LS as an autoimmune disease with preference for a Th1 immune response against a genetic background is summarized. In addition to the classically referenced ECM1 (extracellular matrix protein 1), a following discussion of other immune and genetic targets more recently implicated as causative or accelerant agents of disease, particularly miR-155, downstream targets of ECM1, galectin-7, p53, and epigenetic modifications to CDKN2A, are addressed from the viewpoint of their involvement in three different, but interconnected aspects of LS pathology. Collectively, these emerging targets serve not only as inherently potential therapeutic targets for treatment, but may also provide further insight into this debilitating and cryptic disease.
2. Differentially regulated miRNAs and their related molecular pathways in lichen sclerosus.
Tan X, Ren S, Yang C, Ren S, Fu MZ, Goldstein AR, Li X, Mitchell L, Krapf JM, Macri CJ, Goldstein AT and Fu SW. Cells. 2021, 10(9), 2291. doi: 10.3390/cells10092291.
Abstract
Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with unknown pathogenesis. The aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is considered to exert a crucial role in LS. We used the next-generation sequencing technology (RNASeq) for miRNA profiling and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) for molecular network analysis. We performed qRT-PCR, miRNA transfection and Matrigel assays for functional studies. We identified a total of 170 differentially expressed miRNAs between female LS and matched adjacent normal tissue using RNASeq, with 119 upregulated and 51 downregulated. Bioinformatics analysis revealed molecular networks that may shed light on the pathogenesis of LS. We verified the expression of a set of miRNAs that are related to autoimmunity, such as upregulated miR-326, miR-142-5p, miR-155 and downregulated miR-664a-3p and miR-181a-3p in LS tissue compared to the matched adjacent normal tissue. The differentially expressed miRNAs were also verified in blood samples from LS patients compared to healthy female volunteers. Functional studies demonstrated that a forced expression of miR-142-5p in human dermal fibroblast PCS-201-010 cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation and migration. These findings suggest that differentially expressed miRNAs may play an important role in LS pathogenesis; therefore, they could serve as biomarkers for LS management.
3. Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus: Current Perspectives
Jill M Krapf, Leia Mitchell, Michelle A Holton, and Andrew T Goldstein
Abstract
An increased understanding of the differences between the genomic and proteomic profiles between LS and normal skin may aid in the identification of potential biomarkers to be used for early diagnosis, treatment, and even prevention of the disease. There is an ongoing clinical trial [NCT03561428] that aims to identify and validate genes, protein, or glycoproteins that serve as biomarkers for LS.28 Identification of specific biomarkers will facilitate the development of assays that may be incorporated in minimally invasive tests or screening tools for early detection of LS, as well as more specific tests for biopsy-based tissue diagnosis.
4. . Ongoing NIH Clinical Trial
Biomarkers of Lichen Sclerosus
Summary of the study
LS causes vulvar itching, pain, and burning. In addition, it causes scarring of the vulva which may cause significant lack of sexual pleasure or pain. Lastly, 4-6% of women with LS will develop vulvar cancer. The purpose of this study is to learn the gene expression file changes in skins affected by LS as compared to normal skins in order to discover the mechanism of the LS, and further to develop effective drugs to treat the condition.
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