The Aberrant Epigenetic Modifications in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation, vascular hyperplasia, and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the dermis and epidermis. It is generally accepted that the central pathogenesis of psoriasis is dysfunction of T lymphocytes, which are affected by the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors, including trauma, infections, stress, drugs, smoking, and alcohol consumption (Nestle et al., 2009). The environmentally induced epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNAs, have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease (Zhang et al., 2012).