Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease characterized by abnormal differentiation and hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. LIM-domain only protein 4 (LMO4) is a transcription factor coregulator that promotes the assembly of multiprotein complexes to regulate mammary epithelium and keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation during embryogenesis. In this study, LMO4 has been found to be abundantly expressed in psoriatic epidermis. LMO4 expression is increased in human keratinocytes induced to differentiate by calcium ex vivo, and LMO4 overexpression induces spontaneous differentiation and growth acceleration of human keratinocytes in the absence of calcium. IL-23, a cytokine highly expressed in psoriatic skin lesions, induces differentiation and promotes proliferation of human keratinocytes. The IL-23-mediated effects are accompanied by an increase in LMO4 expression mediated by signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 through an IL-23/acutely transforming retrovirus AKT8 in rodent T-cell lymphoma/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway in keratinocytes. Knockdown of LMO4 effectively inhibits differentiation and growth of keratinocytes both ex vivo and in IL-23-injected ears of mice. LMO4 appears to mediate IL-23-related responses in psoriatic keratinocytes and is a potential therapeutic target in psoriasis.

As the incidence of genital warts increases, warts arising in the mouth, throat and other sites can occasionally be seen. Condyloma gigantea in genital sites are often reported, but literature on genital warts in transsexuals is rare. We present a case of C. gigantea in a 23-year-old male-to-female transsexual, whose warts arose on the transplanted skin of a neovagina and in the perianal region. We conclude that although C. gigantea can occur in transsexuals, the best way to treat it is not clear.

The adeno-associated virus (AAV) genome can be stably integrated into the AAVS1 region of human chromosome 19 (19q13.4-qter) with the assistance of Rep68/78 protein.In the current models of AAV integration in a locusspecific manner, the foreign genes were randomly inserted into the AAVS1 region, which contains several functional genes. As random integration in this region may lead to insertion mutations and disrupt normal gene expression or critical signaling pathways of the host cells, it is necessary to find a precise insertion site in the AAVS1 region. Homologous recombination is the most accurate and versatile mechanism for such site-specific integration. To investigate site-specific integration in the AAVS1 region, a targeted vector containing two homologous arms derived from AAVS1 and a reporter gene was transfected into HeLa cells with or without Rep68/78 mRNA. The results indicated that transient expression of Rep68/78 in HeLa cells improved integration of the gene of interest at the AAVS1 locus in a site-specific manner. Compared with locus-specific integration reported in previous studies, sitespecific integration may minimize the risk associated with random DNA integration in the AAVS1 region, which might be helpful for gene therapy.