Psoriatic keratinocytes show reduced IRF-1 and STAT-1alpha activation in response to gamma-IFN. (1/1954)

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by hyperproliferative keratinocytes (KC). The skin lesions are infiltrated by T cells, which secrete gamma interferon (gamma-IFN) and are believed to be necessary to maintain the psoriatic phenotype. In normal KC, gamma-IFN is a potent inhibitor of proliferation, but proliferation of KC persists in psoriatic plaques despite the presence of gamma-IFN. Immunostaining of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) revealed that IRF-1 was localized to the basal cells of the epidermis in normal and in nonlesional psoriatic skin, but was suprabasal or completely absent in lesional psoriatic skin. This finding led to the hypothesis that abnormal signaling in the gamma-IFN pathway may occur in psoriatic KC. To test this hypothesis, we measured activation of IRF-1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1alpha transcription factors in KC after stimulation with gamma-IFN. Primary cultures of KC from normal and nonlesional psoriatic skin were stimulated with gamma-IFN and subsequent transcription factor activation was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Psoriatic KC showed a reduced induction of IRF-1 and STAT-1alpha activation after stimulation with gamma-IFN, compared with normal KC. Reduced activation of IRF-1 and STAT-1alpha in response to gamma-IFN indicates a fundamental defect in the growth and differentiation control of psoriatic KC in the absence of the influence of other cell types.  (+info)

Topical psoriasis therapy. (2/1954)

Psoriasis is a common dermatosis, affecting from 1 to 3 percent of the population. Until recently, the mainstays of topical therapy have been corticosteroids, tars, anthralins and keratolytics. Recently, however, vitamin D analogs, a new anthralin preparation and topical retinoids have expanded physicians' therapeutic armamentarium. These new topical therapies offer increased hope and convenience to the large patient population with psoriasis.  (+info)

Antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects of an extract of red propolis. (3/1954)

AIM: To study the antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects of ethanolic extract of red propolis. METHODS AND RESULTS: This extract induced the formation of granular layer in the mouse tail test used as a model of psoriasis. Propolis 50 mg.kg-1 i.g. showed anti-inflammatory activity in the cotton-pellet granuloma assay in rats, in croton oil-induced edema in mice at a dose of 25% (2.5 microL), and in the peritoneal capillary permeability test in mice at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1. The extract (25 mg.kg-1 i.g.) showed analgesic effect in the model of acetic acid-induced writhings, whereas 40 mg.kg-1 was effective in the hot plate test in mice. CONCLUSION: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipsoriatric properties of Cuban red propolis were evident.  (+info)

A susceptibility locus for epidermodysplasia verruciformis, an abnormal predisposition to infection with the oncogenic human papillomavirus type 5, maps to chromosome 17qter in a region containing a psoriasis locus. (4/1954)

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare genodermatosis characterized by an abnormal susceptibility to infection with a specific group of related human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, including the oncogenic HPV5 associated with the skin carcinomas developing in about half of EV patients. EV is usually considered as an autosomal recessive condition. Taking EV as a model to identify a locus underlying the susceptibility to HPV infections, we performed a genome-wide search for linkage with 255 microsatellite genetic markers in three consanguineous EV families comprising six patients, using the homozygosity mapping approach. Homozygosity restricted to affected individuals was observed for a marker of chromosome 17q (D17S784) in two families and a marker about 17 centiMorgan (cM) distal (D17S1807) in the third family. Ten additional microsatellite markers spanning 29 cM in this region were analyzed. Two-point lod score values greater than 3 were obtained for four markers and multipoint linkage analysis yielded a maximum lod score of 10.17 between markers D17S939 and D17S802. Recombination events observed in two families allowed a candidate region for the EV susceptibility locus to be mapped to the 1 cM region defined by these two markers. The EV locus (named EV1) is included in the 17qter region recently found to contain a dominant locus for the susceptibility to familial psoriasis. It has been shown that patients suffering from psoriasis are likely to constitute the reservoir of HPV5. It is thus tempting to speculate that distinct defects affecting the same gene may be involved in the two skin conditions.  (+info)

Upregulation of connexin 26 is a feature of keratinocyte differentiation in hyperproliferative epidermis, vaginal epithelium, and buccal epithelium. (5/1954)

In epidermis, it has been suggested, intercellular communication through gap junctions is important in coordinating cell behavior. The connexins, may facilitate selective assembly or permeability of gap junctions, influencing the distribution of metabolites between cells. Using immunohistochemistry, we have compared the distribution of connexins 26 and 43 with that of proliferating cells (Ki67 labeling) in normal epidermis, hyperplastic epidermis (tape-stripped epidermis, psoriatic lesions, and viral warts), and vaginal and buccal epithelia. Connexin 43 was abundant in spinous layers of all epidermal specimens and in vaginal and buccal epithelia. Connexin 26 was absent from the interfollicular and interductal epidermis of normal hair-bearing skin, and nonlesional psoriatic epidermis but present at very low levels in plantar epidermis. Connexin 26 was prominent in lesional psoriatic epidermis and viral warts and in vaginal and buccal epithelia. In three independent experiments connexin 26 appeared in a patchy intercellular distribution in the basal epidermis within 24 h of tape stripping, proceeding to more extensive distribution in basal and suprabasal layers by 48 h. The increase in connexin 26 preceded that in cell proliferation. In vaginal epithelium, buccal epithelium, and viral warts connexin 26 was restricted mainly to suprabasal, nonproliferating cells. In psoriatic lesional epidermis connexin 26 was also located mainly in suprabasal, nonproliferating cells. Connexin 26 was present in a patchy distribution in the basal layer of psoriatic lesional epidermis, but double labeling for connexin 26 and Ki67 showed that many connexin 26 positive basal cells were nonproliferative, suggesting that connexin 26 may be related to differentiation rather than to proliferation. These observations would be consistent with a role for connexin 26 containing gap junctions during both early and later stages of keratinocyte differentiation in hyperplastic epidermis and in vaginal and buccal epithelia.  (+info)

Optimum porphyrin accumulation in epithelial skin tumours and psoriatic lesions after topical application of delta-aminolaevulinic acid. (6/1954)

Photodynamic therapy with topically applied delta-aminolaevulinic acid is used to treat skin tumours by employing endogenously formed porphyrins as photosensitizers. This study examines the time course of porphyrin metabolite formation after topical application of delta-aminolaevulinic acid. Porphyrin biosynthesis in human skin tumours (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma), in psoriatic lesions, and in normal skin was investigated. Skin areas were treated with delta-aminolaevulinic acid, and levels of total porphyrins, porphyrin metabolites and proteins were measured in samples excised after 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h. There was an increase in porphyrin biosynthesis in all tissues with maximum porphyrin levels in tumours between 2 and 6 h and in psoriatic lesions 6 h after treatment. The pattern of porphyrins showed no significant difference between normal and neoplastic skin, protoporphyrin being the predominant metabolite. The results suggest that optimum irradiation time for superficial epithelial skin tumours may be as soon as 2 h after application of delta-aminolaevulinic acid, whereas for treatment of psoriatic lesions an application time of 6 h is more suitable.  (+info)

Calcium-binding protein S100A7 and epidermal-type fatty acid-binding protein are associated in the cytosol of human keratinocytes. (7/1954)

Expression of epidermal-type fatty acid-binding protein (E-FABP) and S100A7 has previously been shown to be elevated in psoriatic skin, a disease characterized by abnormal keratinocyte differentiation. However, no causal relationship between the up-regulation of these proteins and the disease has been shown. E-FABP is thought to be involved in cytosolic fatty acid (FA) transport, whereas the role of S100A7 is still unknown. In this report, we show by overlay assays that E-FABP, immobilized on nitrocellulose, is able to capture S100A7 from cytosolic psoriatic protein extracts and vice versa, suggesting the formation of a complex between the two proteins. Using purified E-FABP and S100A7, the complex can be reconstituted only in presence of EDTA. Moreover, we show that increased EDTA concentrations in psoriatic cytosolic protein extracts enhance complex formation. Partial complex disruption was obtained by the addition of physiological concentrations of Zn2+ (0.1 mM), whereas Ca2+ at 5 mM and Mg2+ at 30 mM had no effect. On the other hand, high Ca2+ concentrations (30 mM) resulted in partial complex disruption. Oleic acid-binding properties were observed for free E-FABP and the complex E-FABP-S100A7, but not for free S100A7. By using confocal microscopy we show that S100A7 and E-FABP are co-localized in the cytoplasm of differentiating keratinocytes from lesional psoriatic skin. These data indicate that formation of the E-FABP-S100A7 complex and its FA-binding function might be regulated at least by bivalent cations.  (+info)

Does psychological intervention help chronic skin conditions? (8/1954)

The objective of the study was to assess the impact of psychological/psychiatric assessment in patients with chronic or intractable dermatological conditions. A diagnostic interview was undertaken in order to pin-point any temporal connection between an adverse life-event and the first appearance of the skin disorder. Following this, the dermatologist's assessment of subsequent changes in the skin disorder were noted. The three main dermatological diagnoses were atopic eczema (10), prurigo (10), and psoriasis (nine). Follow-up was for up to 5 years. A favourable response was noted in 40 out of the 64 patients who participated in the study; this was usually evident within a few weeks and maintained thereafter. Remission was achieved in 12, while 28 showed some improvement. We conclude that this liaison between dermatology and psychiatry proved a valuable adjunct to normal dermatological treatment and was followed by improvement in the majority of patients.  (+info)