Premium
Localization of transforming growth factor‐alpha RNA and protein in the skin of psoriatic patients receiving therapy
Author(s) -
WATTS P.,
STABLES G.S.,
AKHURST R.J.,
MACKIE R.M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1994.tb08459.x
Subject(s) - psoriasis , epidermis (zoology) , medicine , in situ hybridization , messenger rna , rna , transforming growth factor , dermatology , pathology , tgf alpha , growth factor , receptor , biology , anatomy , gene , biochemistry
Summary Fourteen patients with chronic plaque psoriasis requiring in‐patient therapy were treated with a variety of antipsoriatic agents. All had four skin biopsies taken: two prior to therapy, one from a psoriatic plaque and one from adjacent clinically normal skin, and two further biopsies, one 2–3 weeks after starting therapy, and one at clinical clearance, taken from an area where there was previously a psoriatic plaque. In addition, three biopsies were taken from clinically normal skin of non‐psortatics. Transforming growth factor‐alpha (TGF‐α) RNA and protein distributions were estimated in these biopsies, using in situ hybridization with a cRNA TGF‐α probe, and an antibody to TGF‐α polypeptide. Prior to therapy, grain counts showed elevated levels of TGF‐α RNA in the subcorneal layers of the epidermis. These levels decreased during clearance of the psoriasis. In one patient whose plaques did not clear, there was no decrease of TGF‐α mRNA. Antibody studies showed the presence of TGF‐α polypeptide in the epidermis prior to therapy, with a relative concentration of immunoprotein in the upper epidermal layers, compared with a more uniform distribution of immunoprotein after treatment, and in uninvolved skin of the same psoriatic patient. These studies extend our knowledge of the relationship between TGF‐α and psoriatic skin.