ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of tazarotene induced gene-2 (TIG2) in psoriasis vulgaris.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>TIG2 protein and mRNA expressions in normal tissues, psoriatic lesions and uninvolved skin tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TIG2 protein and mRNA were expressed in all the layers of normal and uninvolved epidermis. TIG2 expression was detected in the upper layers of the stratum spinosum of the marginal region of the psoriatic lesions, but not in the central area of the lesions. TIG2 expression was significantly lower in the basal layers of the central area of the paoriasis than that in the normal skin and uninvolved tissues (P < 0.01), and also lower in the marginal regions of the lesions (P < 0.01).The suprabasal layers of the marginal region in the lesion showed significantly lower TIG2 expression than the central area of the lesion (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TIG2 may maintain the normal differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes and implicate in the pathogenesis and development of psoriasis vulgaris.</p>