Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease where nail involvement is an important aspect although often underestimated. Our knowledge of nail immunology is still very scarce. To develop more targeted therapies, it is relevant to understand the immunologic mechanisms of psoriatic nails.
The aim of the study was to determine the presence and distribution of human beta defensins and cytokines in psoriatic nail apparatus biopsies comparing with healthy nails.
We obtained 8 biopsies of nail psoriasis and control group with material of 5 healthy nail apparatus from fresh cadavers with a punch method and fixed in Stefanini’s solution, dehydrated and embedded in paraffin. Subsequently we performed staining with haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry for
human β-defensins (hβD-2, hβD-3 and hβD-4) as well as interleukins (IL-1α, IL-6 and IL-10) and evaluated
the results semi-quantitatively grading the intensity of positively stained structures in the visual field.
Both in psoriatic nails and the control group, hβD-2 and hβD-3, not hβD-4, was positively expressed
with predominance in psoriatic nails. In psoriatic nails, IL-1α was absent, while it was moderately positive
in control group. Structures positive for IL-6 and IL-10 in psoriatic nails were found in greater extent compared to the control group.
The increased expression of hβD-2 and hβD-3 in the psoriatic nail highlights the potential role of antimicrobial peptides for the innate immunity involvement in the pathogenesis of nail psoriasis.
In psoriatic nails, the pro-inflammatory (IL-1α) cytokine expression is decreased, but expression of IL-6 as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is increased indicating stimulation of nail growth and increase of anti-inflammatory immunity
The aim of the study was to determine the presence and distribution of human beta defensins and cytokines in psoriatic nail apparatus biopsies comparing with healthy nails.
We obtained 8 biopsies of nail psoriasis and control group with material of 5 healthy nail apparatus from fresh cadavers with a punch method and fixed in Stefanini’s solution, dehydrated and embedded in paraffin. Subsequently we performed staining with haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry for
human β-defensins (hβD-2, hβD-3 and hβD-4) as well as interleukins (IL-1α, IL-6 and IL-10) and evaluated
the results semi-quantitatively grading the intensity of positively stained structures in the visual field.
Both in psoriatic nails and the control group, hβD-2 and hβD-3, not hβD-4, was positively expressed
with predominance in psoriatic nails. In psoriatic nails, IL-1α was absent, while it was moderately positive
in control group. Structures positive for IL-6 and IL-10 in psoriatic nails were found in greater extent compared to the control group.
The increased expression of hβD-2 and hβD-3 in the psoriatic nail highlights the potential role of antimicrobial peptides for the innate immunity involvement in the pathogenesis of nail psoriasis.
In psoriatic nails, the pro-inflammatory (IL-1α) cytokine expression is decreased, but expression of IL-6 as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is increased indicating stimulation of nail growth and increase of anti-inflammatory immunity
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Rīga Stradiņš University Collection of Scientific Papers 2014 |
| Subtitle of host publication | Research articles in medicine & pharmacy |
| Place of Publication | Rīga |
| Publisher | Rīga Stradiņš University |
| Pages | 47-54 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-9984-793-66-5 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Publication series
| Name | Collection of Scientific Papers |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Rīga Stradiņš University |
| ISSN (Print) | 1691-497X |
Keywords*
- nails
- psoriasis
- antimicrobial peptides
- cytokines
Field of Science*
- 3.1 Basic medicine
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.2. Articles or chapters in other proceedings other than those included in 3.1., with an ISBN or ISSN code
