Extracellular matrix alterations in the skin of patients affected by psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease dependent upon a complex interaction between genetic predisposition and immunological factors. It is characterized by skin lesions throughout the body, causing great morbidity and affecting life quality. The present study aimed to evaluate the protein and mRNA expression of heparanase-1 (HPSE), heparanase-2 (HPSE2), syndecan-1 (SYND1), metalloproteinases (MMP2, MMP9), and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) in skin samples. METHODS: From each psoriasis patient, two samples were collected, one sample from a psoriasis plaque (n = 23) and the other sample from non-affected skin (n = 23), as well as tissue collected by blepharoplasty from control individuals (n = 18). Protein expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry, followed by digital quantification. Quantitative RT-PCR obtained mRNA expression. Statistical analyses were done, and p values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: A significant increase in protein and mRNA expression was observed in both heparanases (HPSE and HPSE2), and higher protein levels of MMP9 and TIMP2 were observed in the psoriasis plaque compared to the non-affected skin. The data point to a probable activation of MMP2 by TIMP2. Moreover, there was a significant increase in HPSE2, SYND1, MMP9, and TIMP2 in non-affected skin samples from patients with psoriasis than in the control sample (tissue obtained by individuals who do not have psoriasis). CONCLUSIONS: These results show a possible correlation between the characteristic inflammatory process and alterations in the expression of the extracellular matrix in psoriasis. The increased expression of HPSE2, SYND1, MMP9, and TIMP2, even in the absence of psoriatic plaque, indicates that these molecules may be involved with extracellular matrix changes in the initial alterations the psoriatic process and may be candidates for the development of target treatments.

Cutaneous side effects of molecularly targeted therapies for the treatment of solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Currently, molecularly targeted drugs are part of the therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of many neoplasms and are responsible for improvements in the quality of life and survival of patients. Although they act on proteins and components within biochemical pathways that are expressed to a greater extent in neoplastic cells, these drugs can also interfere with the activity of normal cells. SCOPE: This article reviews the cutaneous side effects of main molecularly targeted cancer therapies for solid tumors. FINDINGS: The use of these drugs causes side effects, and the skin is one of the most commonly affected organs. In this literature review, we discuss the adverse cutaneous effects caused by molecularly targeted drugs. CONCLUSION: The identification of these reactions is important to both dermatologists and oncologists so that they properly diagnose the reaction and administer adequate treatment, which would allow greater adherence to the oncological treatment and improve patients' quality of life.

Study of the dermatoscopic pattern of tinea nigra: report of 6 cases.

Digital dermatoscopy, a noninvasive auxiliary method that can improve the diagnosis of nearly all pigment skin lesions, was used to study 6 cases of tinea nigra, a rare dematiaceous superficial fungal infection and a potential mimicker of melanocytic nevus. Patients were first evaluated by a manual dermatoscope using a 10-fold magnification. The same patients were then reevaluated using a digital dermatoscope with 20-, 50-, and 70-fold magnifications. Direct mycologic examination and culture supported the establishment of the etiologic diagnosis. All reported cases showed a single dermatoscopic pattern. Manual and digital dermatoscopic images revealed irregularly distributed dark brown-pigmented dot lesions with filamentous aspect. The authors could not observe any melanocytic lesions. Cutaneous pigmented lesions, including superficial spreading melanoma, are the differential diagnosis. The dermatoscopic images are useful to help distinguish tinea nigra from other melanocytic diseases.