Mitochondrial dysfunction in affected skin and increased mitochondrial DNA in serum from patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is characterized by keratinocyte proliferation and chronic inflammation, but the pathogenesis is still unclear. Dysregulated mitochondria (mt) could lead to reduced apoptosis and extracellular secretion of mtDNA, acting as "innate pathogen" triggering inflammation. Serum was obtained from healthy volunteers and psoriatic patients. Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from the serum and amplified with quantitative PCR (qPCR). Punch biopsies were obtained from lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin (10 cm apart) and from healthy volunteers, were placed in RNA later and were stored at -80°C until RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized; gene expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and calcineurin, involved in the regulation of mitochondria function, was detected with qPCR. Mitochondrial DNA was significantly increased (7s, P = 0.0496 and Cytochrome B, CytB, P = 0.0403) in the serum of psoriatic patients (n = 63) as compared to controls (n = 27). Gene expression was significantly reduced for UCP2 (P = 0.0218), Drp1 (P = 0.0001) and calcineurin (P = 0.0001) in lesional psoriatic skin, as compared to non-lesional or control skin. Increased serum extracellular mtDNA in psoriatic patients and decreased expression of mitochondrial regulatory proteins in psoriatic skin suggest increased inflammation and reduced keratinocyte apoptosis, respectively. Inhibitors of mtDNA secretion and/or UCP2 stimulants may be potential treatment options.