A potential contribution of psoriasin to vascular and epithelial abnormalities and inflammation in systemic sclerosis

Antimicrobial peptides have attracted much attention as a member of disease-associated molecules in systemic sclerosis (SSc), which is pathologically characterized by immune abnormalities, vasculopathy and tissue fibrosis.

To investigate the potential contribution of one of the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin to the development of SSc.

Psoriasin expression in the skin samples and sera derived from SSc patients and its correlation with clinical parameters were analysed. Psoriasin expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry with skin samples from SSc patients and healthy controls. Serum levels of psoriasin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 51 SSc patients and 19 healthy controls and assessed for the association with clinical symptoms.

The expression of psoriasin was elevated in the epidermis of SSc lesional skin. Serum psoriasin levels were higher in SSc patients, especially in diffuse cutaneous SSc patients with disease duration of <6 years, than in healthy controls. With respect to clinical association, SSc patients with interstitial lung disease, telangiectasia and pitting scars had significantly augmented levels of serum psoriasin than those without each of these symptoms. In the subgroup of patients with interstitial lung disease, the elevation of serum psoriasin levels was associated with higher ground-glass opacity scores. Furthermore, serum psoriasin levels were decreased after the treatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse as compared to baseline values.

Our findings indicate a possible contribution of psoriasin to the development of clinical symptoms associated with vascular and epithelial abnormalities and inflammation in SSc, further supporting the roles of antimicrobial peptides in the SSc pathogenesis.