Immunohistochemical Study of TGF- type I and type II receptor Expression in Psoriatic Epidermis / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the pathogenetic role and expression of TGF-beta in psoriatic lesion. Transforming growth factor s are a family of growth factors with inhibitory effects on epithelial cell proliferation. Their effects are mediated by two interacting receptors, of which type I receptor mediates signal transduction after interaction with type II receptor carrying the TGF ligand. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between development of psoriasis and expression of TGF-beta receptors in psoriatic lesion. METHODS: We have studied the expression of TGF-beta type I and type II receptors in psoriatic lesions of 30 psoriatic patients who had not been treated for 1 month, 5 non-lesional psoriatic skin, and 3 normal human skin by immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal rabit antisera. RESULTS: 1. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed an intense immunoreactivity for TGF-beta type I and type II receptors in the basal and also suprabasal layer of normal epidermis and non-lesional psoriatic skin. 2. Almost all psoriatic lesions studied lacked detectable immunoreactivity of either receptor in the epidermis. CONCLUSION: We suggest the lack of TGF-beta - mediated growth inhibition by down regulation of TGF-beta receptor expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.