The expression of p63 during epidermal remodeling in psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disorder of chronic keratinization characterized by epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, and inflammation. However, little is known about the mechanism (s) underlying the hyperplasia with elongated rete ridges characteristic of psoriasis. The p63 transcription factor, a homologue of the p53 tumor suppressor, has been implicated in the maintenance of epidermal stem cells and the stratification of the epidermis. p63 is up-regulated in squamous cell carcinomas with anaplasia, suggesting that it is also associated with epidermal hyperplasia. In this study, we examined the expression of p63 in the remodeling of psoriatic epidermis. Lesional tissues from 17 psoriasis patients in various stages of plaque-type psoriasis and normal skin tissues from five healthy subjects were examined by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal anti-p63 antibody. Normal epidermis stained positively for p63 in the basal cell layer and in 2 to 4 layers of the spinous cell layer. p63 was positive in the thickened rete ridges of the epidermis even in early psoriatic lesions. As the epidermis elongated, p63-positive cells moved down and were localized in the lower parts of the rete ridges where keratinocytes densely proliferated. From these results, we suggest that p63 may be involved in the early stage of the remodeling process of the psoriatic epidermis as well as in the elongation of the rete ridges.