Label-Free Multiphoton Microscopy for Diagnosis of Psoriasis

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Optical Microscopy

Background:

• Psoriasis is a prevalent global skin condition with significant physical and psychological impacts.
• Timely and precise diagnosis of psoriasis is essential for effective patient management and treatment.
• Current diagnostic methods can be time-consuming, necessitating faster imaging techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of multiphoton microscopy (MPM) for rapid imaging and detection of psoriasis.
• To analyze microstructural changes in psoriatic tissues, specifically stratum corneum, epidermis, and collagen fibers.
• To evaluate the potential of collagen as a biomarker for assessing psoriasis progression.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multiphoton microscopy (MPM) to image imiquimod-induced mouse models and human psoriatic skin samples.
• Compared MPM imaging findings with traditional Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining.
• Quantified changes in collagen fiber characteristics, including alignment, number, area, length, width, cross-linking gap, and density.

Main Results:

• MPM accurately monitored the thickening of the stratum corneum and epidermis in psoriatic tissues, consistent with H&E staining.
• Observed increased alignment and number of collagen fibers in both mouse and human psoriatic samples.
• Detected decreased proportionate area, length, width, and increased cross-linking density of collagen fibers in mouse models.

Conclusions:

• Multiphoton microscopy provides a rapid and accurate method for diagnosing psoriasis.
• Alterations in collagen fiber structure (alignment, density, and dimensions) serve as potential biomarkers for psoriasis.
• MPM imaging of collagen changes offers a promising avenue for evaluating psoriasis progression and severity.