Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026

The CYP2D6 Animal Model: How to Induce Autoimmune Hepatitis in Mice
Published on: February 3, 2012
Hepatitis C may enhance key amplifiers of psoriasis
1Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Background:
Multiple studies have noted an association between hepatitis C and psoriasis, but it is not known whether psoriasis is a result of treatment modalities for hepatitis C or a result of hepatitis C alone.
Objective:
To examine the relationship between psoriasis and hepatitis C by measuring the expression of cathelicidin, TLR9 and IFNγ in psoriatic lesional and non-lesional skin in HCV-positive and negative psoriatic patients.
Methods:
Two 2 mm punch biopsies of lesional and non-lesional skin in 10 patients who were HCV-negative psoriatics and seven HCV-positive psoriatics were used to measure cathelicidin, TLR9 and IFNγ mRNA expression by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Results:
The mRNA levels of cathelicidin, TLR9 and IFNγ were significantly higher in both non-lesional and lesional skin of HCV-positive patients with psoriasis as compared to HCV-negative psoriatic patients. Additionally, the IFNγ level in lesional skin of HCV-positive psoriatic patients was higher than the IFNγ level seen in non-lesional skin of those same patients.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that HCV infection upregulates these inflammatory cytokines, possibly increasing susceptibility to developing psoriasis.
Related Concept Videos
Hepatitis
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...

