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Increased expression of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptors in psoriasis plaques
Author(s) -
Faurschou Annesofie,
Pedersen Jens,
Gyldenløve Mette,
Poulsen Steen S.,
Holst Jens J.,
Thyssen Jacob P.,
Zachariae Claus,
Vilsbøll Tina,
Skov Lone,
Knop Filip K.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.12081
Subject(s) - psoriasis , medicine , receptor , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immune system , interferon , skin biopsy , infiltration (hvac) , inflammation , human skin , glucagon like peptide 1 , biopsy , cytokine , psoriasis area and severity index , gene expression , immunology , endocrinology , gene , biology , diabetes mellitus , physics , genetics , type 2 diabetes , thermodynamics , biochemistry
Recent case reports suggest that treatment with glucagon‐like peptide‐1 ( GLP ‐1) agonists results in clinical improvement of psoriasis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether GLP ‐1 receptors ( GLP ‐1Rs) are found in the skin of healthy volunteers and psoriasis patients and if so, whether GLP ‐1Rs are located on keratinocytes or immune cells. Three mm‐punch skin biopsies were taken for gene expression analysis from six healthy volunteers and from affected and unaffected skin of six psoriasis patients. In addition, a blood sample was obtained from all participants. Cultured human keratinocytes were either untreated or incubated with tumor necrosis factor‐ α ( TNF ‐α), interferon‐γ ( IFN ‐γ) or a combination of TNF ‐α and IFN ‐γ for 48 h. Total RNA was extracted from all the samples, reversely transcribed and analysed for the expression of GLP ‐1R using real‐time PCR . Gene expression analysis showed expression of GLP ‐1Rs in five of six skin biopsies from psoriasis plaques, in one of six biopsies from unaffected psoriatic skin and in one of six biopsies from healthy skin. GLP ‐1R expression was found in the blood of both healthy volunteers and psoriasis patients. No GLP ‐1R expression was found in either stimulated or unstimulated cultured human keratinocytes. Our results show increased presence of GLP ‐1Rs in psoriasis plaques and that this most likely is due to infiltration with immune cells. This offers a possible explanation for the positive effect of treatment with GLP ‐1R agonists in patients with psoriasis.