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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
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Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
Published on: March 1, 2024
Blood ACE Activity Is Significantly Lowered in Psoriasis Compared to Atopic Dermatitis: A Small Pilot Study in Young
Vivien Osterhus1, Markus Böhm2, Simone König3
1Service Unit Proteomics, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Münster, 48149, Germany.
Current Medical Science
|July 20, 2026
Summary
This study found reduced angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in psoriasis patients compared to atopic dermatitis patients. Further research into the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in psoriasis is warranted.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is implicated in autoimmune skin diseases.
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a key role in the RAS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in male patients with psoriasis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis (AD).
- To explore the role of ACE in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Main Methods:
- A small exploratory study involving male probands with psoriasis (n=4) and AD (n=5).
- Assessed ACE activity by measuring the degradation of dabsylated synthetic bradykinin (DBK) using a thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-based neuropeptide reporter assay.
Main Results:
- Significantly reduced DBK cleavage capacity was observed in psoriasis patients compared to AD patients and controls.
- Patient samples exhibited greater variability in measured values than healthy controls.
- Increased ACE activity in psoriasis patients, as reported by others, was not confirmed, potentially due to differing methodologies.
Conclusions:
- This preliminary, hypothesis-generating study suggests a potential role for ACE in psoriasis, questioning current understanding.
- Further research into RAS-targeting treatments for inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis is crucial.
