PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for non-invasively and easily evaluating the capability of the skin in retaining moisture under the epidermis without requiring special, large-sized or expensive measuring devices, and regardless of environments or places for measurement.SOLUTION: Comeocytes are collected from the skin by a tape strip, etc., and the moisture retaining capability under the epidermis is evaluated by measuring the quantity of mRNA corresponding to aquaporin 3 genes included in the collected cells. According to the method, a test sample of the skin can be collected easily and non-invasively for an optionally selected region, and the method has such advantages that special, large-sized and expensive measuring devices are not required and that it is not necessary to transfer the test sample to a place for measurement.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】特別な大型かつ高価な測定機器を必要とせず、測定環境や測定場所を選ばない、非侵襲的で簡易な皮膚表皮内水分保持能評価法を提供する。【解決手段】皮膚からテープストリップ等によって角質細胞を採取し、そこに含まれるアクアポリン3遺伝子に対応するmRNA量を調べることにより、皮膚表皮内の水分保持能を評価する。この方法は、測定環境を選ばずに、任意の部位について非侵襲的かつ簡易に皮膚の試料が採取可能であり、特別な大型かつ高価な測定機器を必要とせず、また測定場所まで移動させる必要がないという利点がある。【選択図】なし
