Search

Background: Lichen planus (LP) is considered to be an immune-mediated disease of a not fully understood etiology. There are scarce data on the immune cells forming the band-like infiltration in cutaneous LP (CLP). The objective of the current study was to investigate the immunohistochemical pattern of cells forming the infiltrate in CLP by assessing the immunoexpression of selected cell lineage markers., Methods: The immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of CD4, CD8, CD20, CD56, CD68, c-Kit, and Foxp3 was performed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biopsy specimens from 14 cases of CLP and 11 healthy volunteers., Results: The expression of CD4 (P < 0.001), CD8 (P < 0.001), CD68 (P < 0.001), Foxp3 (P < 0.001), CD56 (v = 0.019), and CD20 (P < 0.001) was significantly higher in lesional skin in CLP compared to healthy controls. The ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ cells in the infiltrate was 1.75:1. The expression of Foxp3, CD56, and CD20 was markedly lower than the expression of CD4 and CD8. There was no statistically significant difference in c-Kit expression between CLP lesions and healthy skin (P = 0.57)., Conclusions: We found a wide variety of immune cells in the inflammatory infiltrate in CLP. The expression of CD4, CD8, CD68, Foxp3, CD56, and CD20 was significantly increased in CLP, while the expression of c-Kit was comparable in lesional skin and controls. The presence of various cell populations, including T regulatory cells, NK cells, and B cells, may indicate a complex pathogenesis of CLP., (© 2021 the International Society of Dermatology.)

Introduction: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is an inflammatory, primary scarring alopecia, however its pathogenesis is not completely elucidated. S100A7 is a multifunctional, antimicrobial protein with proinflammatory properties. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is implicated in the development of various autoimmune skin diseases. Aim: To determine the tissue expression of S100A7, S100A4 and IL-17 in LPP Material and methods: The immunohistochemical analysis was performed on biopsy specimens obtained from individuals with histologically confirmed lichen planopilaris (n = 23), alopecia areata (AA) (n = 11), and healthy controls (n = 14). The expression was evaluated using Zeiss Axio Imager A2 light microscope. Results: The number of cells showing S100A7 expression was significantly higher in LPP lesional skin compared to AA lesional skin (p = 0.0002) and normal skin of healthy controls (p < 0.0001). The number of cells showing IL-17 expression was significantly higher in LPP lesional skin compared to normal skin of healthy controls (p < 0.0001) and the number of cells showing IL-17 expression was significantly higher in AA lesional skin compared to normal skin of healthy controls (p < 0.0001). The number of cells showing IL-17 expression was not significantly different in LPP lesional skin and in AA lesional skin (p > 0.05). The number of cells showing S100A4 expression was not significantly different in LPP lesional skin, AA lesional skin and in normal skin of healthy controls. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest the possible role of S100A7 and IL-17 in the pathogenesis of LPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. An important role of innate immune dysregulation in the pathogenesis of HS has been highlighted. S100A7 (psoriasin) is an innate, antimicrobial protein that exerts proinflammatory and chemotactic action. Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate serum concentrations of S100A7 in individuals with HS as compared to healthy controls. Further, we evaluated the expression of S100A7 in lesional HS skin as compared to perilesional (clinically uninvolved) HS skin and normal skin. Methods: Serum concentrations of S100A7 were evaluated with a commercially available ELISA kit. The expression of S100A7 in the skin was assessed using qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. Results: We found increased expression of S100A7 in lesional HS skin as compared to perilesional HS skin (p = 0.0017). The expression of S100A7 in lesional HS skin was positively associated with serum C-reactive protein concentration and the severity of disease according to Hurley staging. The serum concentration of S100A7 in individuals with HS was decreased as compared to healthy controls and patients with psoriasis. Conclusions: Upregulated in lesional HS skin, S100A7 may enhance the inflammatory process and contribute to the HS pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overexpression of IL-6 has been implicated in the pathology of numerous autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, and relative deficiency of IL-10 in psoriatic patients seems to be important in the development of this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between IL-6 and IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms and susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris. DNA from 78 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 74 healthy volunteers was investigated. IL-6 promoter gene single nucleotide polymorphisms in position -174, and IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms in positions -1082, -819 and -592 were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers. No significant differences were found in the polymorphisms of IL-6 and IL-10 promoter genes between patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to investigate the association between interferon (IFN)-γ single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and susceptibility for psoriasis vulgaris. DNA from 78 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (54 patients with type I psoriasis, 24 with type II psoriasis) and 74 healthy volunteers was investigated. IFN-γ promoter gene SNP in position 874 was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) and the results were compared between a group of psoriatic patients, divided into early onset of psoriasis (type I) and late onset of psoriasis (type II) subgroups, and healthy control subjects. A significant difference in the genotype frequencies between psoriasis patients and healthy controls was found (p <0.02) and no significant differences were observed analyzing subsets of psoriatic patients (gender, type of disease) also in carriage and allele frequencies. The results suggest that IFN-γ polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Overexpression of TGF-β1 has been implicated in the pathology of many inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis. This study was performed to investigate the association between TGF-β1 single nucleotide polymorphism and susceptibility for psoriasis vulgaris. DNA from 78 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 74 healthy volunteers was investigated. Polymorphism of TGF-β1 gene in codon 10 (T/C) and codon 25 (G/C) was evaluated by PCR-SSP and the results were compared between group of psoriatic patients, divided into early onset of psoriasis (type I) and late onset of psoriasis (type II) subgroups, and control healthy subjects. Frequencies in genotypes were similar between patients and control group (p >0.7), but between type I and type II psoriasis patients highly significant difference was found (p <0.0003). Higher frequency of CC/GG (intermediate producer) and TC/GG (high producer) was noted in the type I group, but the second high producer genotype (TT/GG) was more common in type II group. Also between type II psoriasis patients and healthy controls statistically significant difference was found (p <0.000001). In analyzing frequencies of carriage and alleles no significant differences were found. TGF-β1 gene polymorphism in codon 10 and 25 is not associated with susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris, but may be important for the type of the disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Recently, some S100 proteins have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and they may constitute valuable biomarkers for these diseases' diagnosis and monitoring. The objective of the current study was to investigate, for the first time, serum levels of S100A4 and S100A15 in individuals suffering from HS. Furthermore, we assessed the associations between S100A4 and S100A15 serum levels and the severity of disease, CRP serum concentration and some demographic and clinical data. Serum levels of S100A4 and S100A15 were evaluated with the commercially available ELISA kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. The serum level of S100A4 in individuals with HS was significantly elevated as compared to controls, with the highest level found in the individuals in Hurley stage II. The S100A15 serum level was positively correlated with the CRP concentration and was associated with the severity of the disease. The serum level of S100A15 in the individuals in Hurley stage III was significantly elevated compared to that of the controls and the individuals with HS in Hurley stages I and II. S100A4 and S100A15 may be considered as new serum biomarkers for the monitoring of HS progression, and they may play a role in the pathogenesis of HS by promoting inflammatory process and fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quiz concerning the symmetrical keratotic papules on the hands of a four-year old white male is presented.

Pimafucort, which is composed of natamycin, neomycin and hydrocortisone is a valuable drug used in mixed infections caused by bacteria and fungi as well as in the onset of acute inflammation in different dermatoses (e.g. eczema or intertrigo with secondary contamination). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]