Localization of monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF/MCP-1) in psoriasis

The monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCAF) also termed MCP-1, a strong chemotactic factor towards monocytes, is produced by several cell types present in the skin. The in situ presence of MCAF/MCP-1 protein in the skin has, however, not yet been established. Using immunohistochemical techniques we have investigated the distribution of MCAF in skin from patients with different types of psoriasis and normal healthy volunteers. We report the novel finding that psoriasis has strong positive immunostaining for MCAF located to all the layers of the epidermis, except the stratum granulosum, in pustular, guttate and chronic plaque psoriasis. In the dermis, infiltrating cells in the perivascular aggregates and the blood vessels stained positive for MCAF. No significant differences were observed between the different subtypes of psoriasis except that strongly positive infiltrating cells were observed in the epidermal pustules in pustular psoriasis. In normals positive staining was observed in all the layers of the epidermis and in a few perivascular cells and blood vessels in the dermis. Where present in normal and diseased skin, eccrine ducts of sweat glands and sebaceous glands stained positive for MCAF. Arrector pili muscles were in all cases negative. These findings are consistent with a role for MCAF in attracting inflammatory cells, including monocytes, into the skin in psoriasis.