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Cell-wall-deficient bacteria: a major etiological factor for psoriasis?

Guo-Li Wang1, Xiu-Yun Li, Ming-Yi Wang

  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Weihai Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Weihai, Shandong 264200, China. ways1117@sohu.com

Chinese Medical Journal
|February 9, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cell-wall-deficient bacteria (CWDB) infections are prevalent in psoriasis patients, potentially triggering the inflammatory skin disease. Antibiotic treatment effectively reduced CWDB in most patients, suggesting a role in T-cell activation.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin condition with incompletely understood triggers.
  • Emerging research highlights a connection between psoriasis and infections caused by cell-wall-deficient bacteria (CWDB).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of CWDB infections in individuals with psoriasis.
  • To explore the immunological response to CWDB in psoriasis patients.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed CWDB carriage rates in the tonsils/pharynx of psoriasis patients, chronic tonsillitis patients, and controls.
  • Administered antibiotic or non-antibiotic systemic therapy to psoriasis patients with CWDB.
  • Measured interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation in response to bacterial antigens in vitro.

Main Results:

  • CWDB were found in 74.2% of psoriasis patients, compared to 23.5% in chronic tonsillitis and 6.3% in controls.
  • Antibiotic therapy was effective in approximately 80% of psoriasis patients, with only 8.9% showing persistent CWDB infection.
  • Both CWDB and wide-type bacteria significantly increased IFN-gamma production and PBMC proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • CWDB infection is a potential triggering factor in psoriasis.
  • CWDB may influence psoriasis pathogenesis by modulating T-cell activation.

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