Infection-provoked psoriasis: Induced or aggravated (Review)

Psoriasis is a common chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory skin disorder, with a reported prevalence of 0.0-2.1% among children and 0.91-8.50% among adults, worldwide. Psoriasis is induced by several environmental factors, including infection, alcohol consumption, drugs, trauma, acute withdrawal of systemic or potent topical corticosteroids, body mass index and endocrine disorders. Increasing evidence suggest that a variety of microorganisms play key roles in the induction and exacerbation of psoriasis. Pathogens, such as streptococci and staphylococci are considered causal factors, presumably via superantigen activation of skin-seeking T cells. In addition, fungal pathogens, such as Candida and Malassezia, and viral agents, such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus infection and human papillomavirus, are also closely associated with psoriasis. Recently, several types of pathogens, such as Helicobacter pylori infection, Zika virus and scabies, have been reported to potentially trigger psoriasis. The present review discusses the underlying molecular mechanisms by which these infections influence psoriasis to provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis.