elastin and Psoriasis

A previous study has found an association between chronic inflammatory disorders e.g. psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease and increased vascular stiffness(1). Psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are believed to have shared comorbidities and pathophysiology despite their morphologically different manifestations in the skin. In order to evaluate a putative association between the chronic inflammatory skin disease HS and arterial stiffness, an observational cross-sectional retrospective study was carried out as part of the Danish General Suburban Population Study (GESUS) (1), in which 430 patients with HS from the general population (representing mild HS; Table 1), 32 patients with HS from a hospital-based out-patient clinic (representing severe HS, Table 1), and 20,780 controls underwent measurements of arterial vascular tone and stiffness using photoplethysmography (Pulse Trace PCA2®; Micro Medical Ltd, Kent, UK). The method of Pulse Trace has been validated by correlation with intra-arterial sensing techniques, and is a simple cost-effective screening method[2]. All analyses were performed using SAS 9.3. This study was accepted by the ethics committee of Region Zealand (project number SJ-191, SJ-113, SJ-114) in Denmark (2,3). RESULTS Reflection index (RI) is an expression of arterial vascular tone and stiffness of small arteries. The raw data showed a significantly lower RI for both HS groups groups, compared to controls. The results remained significant when adjusting for confounders (age, sex, smoking and metabolic syndrome) in the out-patient clinic HS group (-11.26 (-17.75- -4.76), P=0.0002*), but not in the population HS group (Table 2). Stiffness index (SI) expresses arterial stiffness in large arteries. Both HS groups showed no significant difference in either SI or vascular age in multivariate analysis, when compared with controls (Table 2). DISCUSSION This study suggests that decreased vascular tone and stiffness of small arteries may be associated with severe HS, and at the same time found no difference in arterial stiffness in large arteries. The significance for the out-patient clinic HS group, but not the population HS group may reflect a dose-response relationship. Vascular tone in vascular smooth muscle cells of small arteries depends on competing vasodilators and vasoconstrictors. We speculate that the inflammation of HS may induce a dysfunctional balance e.g. through increased TNF-alpha with subsequent

Topics: Arteries; Cicatrix; Cross-Sectional Studies; Elastin; Hidradenitis Suppurativa; Histamine; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Inflammation; Myocardial Infarction; Nitric Oxide; Psoriasis; Retrospective Studies; Stroke; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasodilator Agents

Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are challenging to treat due to the absence of suitable monitoring procedure and their recurrences. Alteration of skin hydrophilic biomarkers (SHB) and structural elements occur in both disorders and may possess a distinct profile for each clinical condition.. To quantify skin cytokines and antioxidants non-invasively in psoriatic and in AD patients and to evaluate skin auto-fluorescence in psoriatic patients.. A skin wash sampling technique was utilized to detect the expression of SHB on psoriatic and AD patients and healthy controls. Inflammatory cytokine (TNFα, IL-1α and IL-6) levels, total antioxidant scavenging capacity and uric acid content were estimated. Additionally, measurement of the fluorescent emission spectra of tryptophan moieties, collagen cross-links and elastin cross-links were performed on psoriatic patients and healthy controls.. Our findings demonstrate significant alterations of the SHB levels among psoriasis, AD and healthy skin. Differences were also observed between lesional and non-lesional areas in patients with psoriasis and AD. Ultra-structural changes were found in psoriatic patients both in lesional and non-lesional areas.. Employing non-invasive measurements of skin wash sampling and skin auto-fluorescence might serve as complementary analysis for improved diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis and AD. Furthermore, they may serve as an additional monitoring tool for various diseases, in which skin dysfunction is involved.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Collagen; Dermatitis, Atopic; Elastin; Female; Fluorescence; Humans; Interleukin-1alpha; Interleukin-6; Male; Middle Aged; Psoriasis; Skin; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Young Adult

Both wound healing and lymphedema have fibrosis of the skin in common. They also share destruction of elastin by elastases from neutrophils as a significant feature. These are not new observations, and the writings of Unna and Kaposi are recalled. The contemporary observations on elastin by Gerli and his team are discussed in the light of these much earlier opinions.

Topics: Elastin; Elephantiasis; Erysipelas; History, 19th Century; Humans; Leprosy; Psoriasis

The proliferation rate, collagen metabolism and collagen and elastin messenger-RNA levels were studied in fibroblasts derived from patients who had received many courses of either systemic 8-methoxypsoralen or topical trioxsalen PUVA treatment. The proliferation rate of fibroblasts as measured by the incorporation of 3H-thymidine or by cellular division was decreased in those obtained from patients who had PUVA treatment as compared with controls. Collagen synthesis was slightly increased in the cells from PUVA-treated patients, but the relative collagen synthesis and the ratio between types I and III collagen were unchanged. The levels of collagen and elastin mRNAs were increased in fibroblasts derived from the PUVA-treated patients. No significant differences in histology or immunochemistry could be found in the biopsies taken from topical and systemic PUVA-treated patients.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Cells, Cultured; Collagen; Elastin; Female; Fibroblasts; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mitosis; Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase; Psoriasis; PUVA Therapy; RNA, Messenger; Skin

Treatment of psoriasis with psoralens and high-intensity long-wave ultraviolet light (PUVA) produces changes in the ultrastructure of elastic tissue in skin. Early alterations consist of a loss of elastin followed by a breakdown of the microfibrils and subsequent fragmentation of the elastic fiber. Tissue examined 15 months after treatment was stopped still showed marked ultrastructural changes in the elastic fibers.

Topics: Elastic Tissue; Elastin; Furocoumarins; Photochemotherapy; Psoriasis; Skin