Characterization of a psoriatic skin model produced with involved or uninvolved cells

Current knowledge suggests that uninvolved psoriatic skin could demonstrate characteristics associated with both normal and involved psoriatic skins. However, the triggering factor allowing the conversion of uninvolved skin into a psoriatic plaque is not fully understood. To counter this lack of information, we decided to develop pathological skin substitutes produced with uninvolved psoriatic cells, in order to better characterize the uninvolved psoriatic skin. Substitutes were produced using the self-assembly approach. Macroscopic, immunohistochemical, permeability and physicochemical results showed that involved substitutes had a thicker epidermis, higher cell proliferation, abnormal cell differentiation and a more permeable and disorganized stratum corneum compared with normal substitutes. Various results were observed using uninvolved cells, leading to two proposed profiles: profile 1 was suggested for uninvolved skin substitutes mimicking the results obtained with normal skin substitutes; and profile 2 was dedicated to those mimicking involved skin substitutes in all aspects that were analysed. In summary, uninvolved substitutes of profile 1 had a thin, well-organized epidermis with normal cell proliferation and differentiation, such as observed with normal substitutes, while uninvolved substitutes of profile 2 showed an inverse trend, i.e. a thicker epidermis, higher cell proliferation, abnormal cell differentiation and a more disorganized and more permeable stratum corneum, such as seen with involved substitutes. The results suggest that uninvolved substitutes could demonstrate characteristics associated with both normal or involved psoriatic skins.