Transcriptome Assessment of Erythema Migrans Skin Lesions

Gene arrays were used to characterize the global transcriptional alterations in skin biopsy samples of EM lesions in comparison to controls. The transcriptional pattern in EM biopsies consisted of 254 differentially regulated genes (180 induced and 74 repressed) characterized by the induction of chemokines, cytokines, Toll-like receptors, antimicrobial peptides, monocytoid cell activation markers, and numerous genes annotated as interferon (IFN)-inducible. The IFN-inducible genes included 3 transcripts involved in tryptophan catabolism (IDO1, KMO, KYNU) that play a pivotal role in immune evasion by certain other microbial pathogens by driving the differentiation of regulatory T cells. PMCID: PMC5853807 We utilized whole-genome arrays to characterize the global transcriptional alterations in skin biopsy samples of adult patients with erythema migrans (EM) in comparison to skin from healthy controls. Skin samples were collected by punch biopsy from the periphery of the primary erythema migrans (EM) lesion of 18 subjects, and from 11 healthy volunteers (HV). Surgical control (SC) skin samples were obtained from specimens of 16 anonymous donors undergoing surgery for other purposes.