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Surfactant protein D in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis
Author(s) -
Hohwy Thomas,
Otkjaer Kristian,
Madsen Jens,
Søerensen Gritt,
Nielsen Ole,
Vestergaard Christian,
Steiniche Torben,
Holmskov Uffe,
Lomholt Hans
Publication year - 2006
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/j.1600-0625.2006.00406.x
Subject(s) - stratum spinosum , psoriasis , atopic dermatitis , stratum corneum , staining , pathology , basal (medicine) , medicine , dermatology , epidermis (zoology) , immunohistochemistry , stratum granulosum , skin biopsy , human skin , biology , biopsy , anatomy , genetics , insulin
The collectin surfactant protein‐D (SP‐D) shows antimicrobial and immuno‐regulatory properties and has recently been detected in the basal layers of normal human skin. This molecule potentially plays an important role in inflammatory skin diseases and therefore SP‐D content and location was examined using immunohistochemistry on skin biopsies from patients with the two major dermatologic diseases, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. SP‐D was located in the stratum basale of all biopsies with similar intense staining in both diseased and normal skin. Differences were detected in stratum spinosum where involved psoriatic skin showed intense staining through the entire region significantly different from uninvolved and normal skin. Lesional atopic skin showed moderate staining extending through the basal three‐fourths of stratum spinosum. Using real time polymerase chain reaction analysis, no substantial up‐regulation of SP‐D mRNA was detected in lesional psoriatic skin, and a comparison of serum levels of SP‐D between patients with atopic dermatitis or psoriasis and a group of age matched healthy controls did not show significant differences. In conclusion SP‐D was significantly more abundant in the stratum spinosum of lesional psoriatic and atopic skin due to more cells producing the molecule rather than up‐regulation of production in single cells of diseased skin. Further studies are needed to show if SP‐D plays a role in the protection against skin infections or modulation of the inflammatory process in these common skin diseases.