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Cathepsin D expression in chronic plaque psoriasis: an immunohistochemical study
Asmaa Gaber Abdou1, Alaa Hassan Maraee, Mohamed Abd El-Monaem Shoeib
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Menofiya University, Shebein Elkom, Egypt. asmaa_elsaidy@yahoo.com
Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica : ADC
|September 22, 2011
Summary
Cathepsin D (CD) is significantly upregulated in psoriasis skin lesions compared to normal skin. This suggests CD plays a role in psoriasis development and that PUVA therapy may reduce its expression.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cathepsins are lysosomal cysteine proteases with diverse physiological and pathological roles.
- Cathepsin D (CD) is implicated in processes like tissue remodeling and tumor invasion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of cathepsin D (CD) in chronic plaque psoriasis.
- To compare CD expression in psoriatic skin with normal skin using immunohistochemistry.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze CD expression in 34 psoriasis patients and 10 controls.
- Expression levels and distribution were compared between lesional psoriatic skin and normal skin.
Main Results:
- Normal skin showed granular CD positivity in 60% of cases, confined to the basal layer.
- Psoriatic lesions exhibited significantly higher CD positivity (94.1%) with diffuse epidermal distribution.
- PUVA therapy in eight patients led to reduced CD positivity (62.5%) with focal expression.
Conclusions:
- Elevated and diffuse CD expression in psoriatic epidermis suggests a role in psoriasis pathogenesis.
- CD's degradative activity may contribute to abnormal differentiation and scale formation in psoriasis.
- Reduced CD expression is a potential mechanism for PUVA therapy's efficacy in psoriasis.