Immunofluorescence localization of nuclear retinoid receptors in psoriasis versus normal human skin

• Psoriasis responds favourably to treatment with retinoids but the cellular pathways mediating these effects are poorly understood. Retinoids regulate keratinocyte proliferation and maturation via binding to nuclear retinoic acid receptors (mainly RARalpha and RARgamma) which form heterodimers with the 9-cis-RA receptor, RXRalpha. We have previously shown that mRNA expression of RARalpha and RXRalpha is down-regulated in psoriatic lesions as compared with non-lesional human skin. In the present study, we investigated the protein expression of RARalpha, RARgamma and RXRalpha in normal and psoriatic skin using indirect immunofluorescence analysis. Epidermal keratinocytes of normal and non-lesional psoriatic skin displayed similar nuclear localization of all three receptors; RARalpha was detected with decreasing intensity from basal to suprabasal layers, RARgamma showed the opposite trend, whereas RXRalpha was evenly expressed throughout the epidermis. In lesional psoriatic skin, however, all three receptor proteins showed a much higher staining intensity in the lower half of the epidermis; in particular, RARalpha immunoreactivity was low or even absent in the upper layers of epidermis. The results support the idea that psoriasis is associated with abnormal retinoid signalling in lesional epidermis.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Dermatologi och venereologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dermatology and Venereal Diseases (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adult

Aged

Aged; 80 and over

Female

Fluorescent Antibody Technique

Humans

Keratinocytes

Male

Middle Aged

Psoriasis/*immunology

Receptors; Retinoic Acid/immunology

Research Support; Non-U.S. Gov't

Retinoid X Receptor alpha/immunology

Retinoid X Receptors/*immunology

Dermatology and venerology

Dermatologi och venerologi

Dermatology and Venerology

Dermatologi och venereologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)