چکیده (انگلیسی):

Periostin, an extracellular matrix protein belonging to the fasciclin family, has been shown to play a critical role
in the process of remodeling during tissueorgan development or repair. Periostin functions as a matricellular
protein in cell activation by binding to their receptors on cell surface, thereby exerting its biological activities. After
we found that periostin is a downstream molecule of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, signature cytokines of type
2 immune responses, we showed that periostin is a component of subepithelial fibrosis in bronchial asthma, the
first formal proof that periostin is involved in allergic inflammation. Subsequently, a great deal of evidence has
accumulated demonstrating the significance of periostin in allergic inflammation. It is of note that in skin tissues,
periostin is critical for amplification and persistence of allergic inflammation by communicating between fibroblasts
and keratinocytes. Furthermore, periostin has been applied to development of novel diagnostics or
therapeutic agents for allergic diseases. Serum periostin can reflect local production of periostin in inflamed lesions
induced by Th2-type immune responses and also can predict the efficacy of Th2 antagonists against
bronchial asthma. Blocking the interaction between periostin and its receptor, αv integrin, or down-regulating
the periostin expression shows improvement of periostin-induced inflammation in mouse models or in in vitro
systems. It is hoped that diagnostics or therapeutic agents targeting periostin will be of practical use in the near
future.