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Published on: September 6, 2024

Mammalian target of rapamycin and its downstream signalling components are activated in psoriatic skin

C Buerger1, B Malisiewicz, A Eiser

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Clinic of the Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. claudia.buerger@kgu.de

The British Journal of Dermatology
|February 13, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is activated in psoriatic skin, suggesting its role in the disease. Targeting mTOR could be a new strategy for psoriasis treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling regulates cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation.
  • Dysregulated mTOR signaling is implicated in various malignancies, including epidermal tumors.
  • Psoriatic keratinocytes exhibit altered growth and differentiation, prompting investigation into mTOR's role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the activation status of mTOR signaling components in psoriasis.
  • To determine if mTOR pathway is altered in psoriatic skin.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis of skin biopsies from psoriasis patients and healthy donors.
  • Antibodies were used to detect phosphorylated mTOR, phospho-S6 kinase, and phospho-S6 ribosomal protein.

Main Results:

  • mTOR and its downstream signaling molecule, ribosomal protein S6, were found to be activated in lesional psoriatic skin.
  • mTOR activation was observed throughout the epidermis, with heightened activity in the basal layer.
  • S6 activation was prominent in suprabasal layers of differentiating keratinocytes.

Conclusions:

  • These findings suggest a role for mTOR signaling in the epidermal changes characteristic of the psoriatic phenotype.
  • mTOR inhibition presents a potential therapeutic strategy for developing novel antipsoriatic drugs.

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