Toluene induces early growth response-1 dependent thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression in human keratinocytes

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be an important environmental risk factor in the development and/or aggravation of atopic dermatitis (AD). In a several studies to evaluate the clinical effects of air pollution including VOCs on skin symptoms in AD patients. Although these accumulated data shows an association between exposure to VOCs and aggravation of AD, the molecular effects of VOCs on the aggravation of AD is still not clear. The present study demonstrates increases of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in keratinocytes following exposure to toluene. We further investigated the regulatory mechanisms of toluene-induced TSLP expression in human keratinocytes. Toluene induces early growth response-1 (Egr-1) protein expression in human keratinocytes. Moreover, treatment of Egr-1 siRNA abolished toluene-induced TSLP protein expression. Taken together, these findings suggest that in human keratinocytes, the up-regulation of TSLP by toluene is induced through an Egr-1 dependent mechanism.