Original Article

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1991) 96, 434–438; doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12469898

Neuropeptides in Psoriasis: An Immunocytochemical and Radioimmunoassay Study

David J Eedy1, Colin F Johnston2, Christopher Shaw2 and Keith D Buchanan2

  1. 1Department of Dermatology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Northern Ireland
  2. 2Department of Medicine, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Received 7 May 1990; Accepted 14 November 1990.

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Abstract

The present study examines the presence of neuropeptides in the skin and plasma of patients with psoriasis using the techniques of immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. Immunocytochemistry failed to demonstrate differences in the pattern of neuropeptide innervation in psoriatic lesional skin when compared to normal skin. However, radioimmunoassay of skin biopsy extracts, both substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, were significantly elevated in psoriatic lesional skin when compared with both psoriatic non-lesional and normal control skin (p <0.001). There was no significant difference between the plasma levels of neuropeptides in psoriatic patients compared to those of control subjects, and no significant correlation among the plasma levels of neuropeptides with the surface area of involvement with psoriasis. The finding of elevated levels of substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in lesional psoriatic skin suggests that these peptides may be involved in the pathogenesis or maintenance of the psoriatic skin lesion and the development of safe and stable antagonists of these neuropeptides may have applications in the treatment of psoriasis.

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