"Gut-skin"axis: understanding psoriasis from the gut

Area of Science:

• Integrative medicine
• Dermatology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Psoriasis pathogenesis is complex, with emerging research focusing on the gut's role in immune system regulation.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long recognized the intestine's influence on skin conditions, aligning with the "gut-skin" axis concept.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore psoriasis pathogenesis through the lens of the "gut-skin" axis.
• To identify novel therapeutic targets and drug development strategies for psoriasis by investigating the intestinal connection.

Main Methods:

• Literature review encompassing Western medicine's understanding of intestinal pathogenesis and TCM principles.
• Analysis of existing TCM treatments for psoriasis and their proposed mechanisms.
• Synthesis of findings to establish the "gut-skin" axis as a relevant framework for psoriasis research.

Main Results:

• Western medicine currently lacks direct intestinal-targeted treatments for psoriasis.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) demonstrates high efficacy (up to 90%) in treating psoriasis via intestinal pathways, though mechanistic studies are limited.
• The "gut-skin" axis provides a unifying framework for understanding psoriasis, bridging TCM theories and modern scientific concepts.

Conclusions:

• The "gut-skin" axis model aligns with established TCM theories and modern scientific understanding of psoriasis.
• Further research into the "gut-skin" axis is crucial for developing targeted psoriasis therapies.
• Investigating the gut-skin axis holds significant potential for advancing psoriasis treatment and drug discovery.