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Increased microorganisms DNA levels in peripheral blood monocytes from psoriatic patients using PCR with universal
Yukari Okubo1, Noriko Oki, Hidemi Takeda
1Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University, Japan.
Abstract:
It has long been suspected that systemic and focal infections cause or exacerbate psoriatic lesions. We previously showed that peripheral blood monocytes in psoriatic patients are activated and overproduce inflammatory cytokines. In addition, it has been reported that macrophages activated by ingesting microorganisms release tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta. Therefore we hypothesized that the monocytes in psoriatic patients may be activated by ingesting microorganisms and overproduce inflammatory cytokines. We examined the detection of microorganism DNA in monocytes from 15 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and from 12 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from monocytes, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed for the detection using universal primers from conserved regions of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene or the fungal 18S rRNA gene. At the same time, we calculated the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores and analyzed their correlations with the microorganisms DNA levels. The results showed that bacterial 16S DNA levels in monocytes were significantly higher in psoriatic patients than in controls. The fungal 18S DNA levels were also higher in psoriatic patients than in controls, but the differences were not significant. Although the microorganisms DNA levels in monocytes of psoriatic patients were high, there was no correlation between the bacterial DNA levels in monocytes of the psoriatics and PASI scores. Our study suggests that monocytes in psoriatic patients engulf more bacteria than there in controls, causing an activation of monocytes and triggering the formation of new lesions in the initial stages of psoriasis.
Insights
Psoriatic patients show higher levels of bacterial DNA in monocytes, suggesting these immune cells engulf more bacteria. This may trigger new psoriasis lesions in early disease stages.
Area of Science:
- Immunodermatology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Systemic and focal infections are suspected to trigger or worsen psoriatic lesions.
- Monocytes in psoriatic patients exhibit activation and overproduction of inflammatory cytokines.
- Activated macrophages ingesting microorganisms release pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that monocytes in psoriatic patients are activated by ingesting microorganisms, leading to cytokine overproduction.
- To detect and quantify microorganism DNA within monocytes of psoriasis vulgaris patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- DNA extraction from peripheral blood monocytes of 15 psoriasis vulgaris patients and 12 healthy controls.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay using universal primers for bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal 18S rRNA genes.
- Calculation of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and correlation analysis with microbial DNA levels.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher levels of bacterial 16S DNA were detected in monocytes of psoriatic patients compared to controls.
- Elevated, though not statistically significant, levels of fungal 18S DNA were observed in psoriatic patients' monocytes.
- No significant correlation was found between bacterial DNA levels in monocytes and PASI scores in psoriatic patients.
Conclusions:
- Monocytes in psoriasis vulgaris patients appear to engulf greater amounts of bacteria than those in healthy individuals.
- Increased bacterial presence within monocytes may contribute to monocyte activation.
- This monocyte activation could play a role in triggering new psoriatic lesion formation during the early stages of the disease.