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Surfactant proteins in inflammatory skin diseases: controlled study
Ayse Akman1, Orhan Kankavi, Mehmet Akif Ciftcioglu
1Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. aakman@akdeniz.edu.tr
Archives of Dermatological Research
|April 4, 2008
Summary
Surfactant proteins (SP) are expressed in skin and may play a role in inflammatory skin diseases. Their expression is heightened in lesional skin and inflammatory cells, suggesting a role in disease pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Surfactant proteins (SP) are known for their role in lung function.
- Recent findings suggest SP expression in human skin, potentially involved in skin's first-line defense.
- The role of SP in inflammatory skin conditions remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and localization of surfactant proteins (SP-A, -B, -C, and -D) in lesional and normal-appearing skin of patients with inflammatory skin diseases.
- To determine if SP expression differs between lesional and normal skin.
- To explore the potential involvement of SP in the immunologic response within inflammatory skin diseases.
Main Methods:
- Biopsies were collected from lesional and adjacent normal-appearing skin of seven patients with inflammatory skin diseases (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, Behcet's disease).
- Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to study the expression and localization of SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D.
- Expression patterns were analyzed in both epidermal and dermal inflammatory cells.
Main Results:
- Normal-appearing skin showed weak cytoplasmic staining for SP-A and SP-D, and nuclear staining for SP-B and SP-C in the epidermis.
- All lesional skin samples exhibited stronger epidermal staining for SP compared to normal skin.
- A prominent staining pattern for SP was observed in inflammatory cells within the dermis of lesional skin.
Conclusions:
- Surfactant proteins are expressed in human skin and their expression is upregulated in inflammatory skin diseases.
- Increased SP expression in lesional skin and infiltrating inflammatory cells suggests a significant role in the immunologic response.
- These findings indicate a previously unrecognized immunologic mechanism and highlight SP's potential importance in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin disorders.
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