Project description:In this study, we sought to establish the usefulness of LCM on cDNA microarray analysis. We reported that LCM samples improved the sensitivity of detection of differentially expressed genes over conventional bulk tissue analysis. We also provided the new information of chemokine and its receptor interaction within psoriatic lesional skin. For the comparison of gene expression patterns between single and double amplification techniques, total RNA was extracted from blocks of paired lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin biopsies from four patients. For LCM experiment, total RNA was extracted from sliced tissue sections of paired lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin biopsies from three patients.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Homo sapiens inflammatory skin diseases (whole skin biospies): Psoriasis (Pso), vs Atopic Dermatitis (AD) vs Lichen planus (Li), vs Contact Eczema (KE), vs Healthy control (KO) In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation. In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation.
Project description:Psoriasis is a systemic disease with cutaneous manifestations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that are differentially expressed in psoriatic skin, however; only few miRNAs have been localized to specific cells or regions of psoriatic lesions. We used laser capture microdissection (LCM) and next-generation sequencing to study the specific miRNA expression profiles in the epidermis (Epi) and dermal inflammatory aggregates (RD/ICs) of psoriatic skin. We identified 24 deregulated miRNAs in the Epi and 37 deregulated miRNAs in the RD/ICs of lesional psoriatic skin compared with non-lesional psoriatic skin (FCH>2, FDR<0.05). Interestingly, 9 of the 37 miRNAs, including miR-193b and miR-223 that have recently been described as deregulated in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with psoriasis. Using flow cytometry and qRT-PCR, miR-193b and miR-223 were found to be expressed in Th17 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate that LCM combined with small RNA sequencing provides a robust strategy to explore the global miRNA expression in the epidermal and dermal compartments of psoriatic skin. Furthermore, our results indicate that the altered local miRNA changes seen in the RD/ICs is reflected in the circulating immune cells, altogether emphasizing that miRNAs may contribute to a systemic component in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Examination of the global miRNA expression in epidermis (Epi) and dermis (RD/ICs) of paired (non-lesional vs. lesional) psoriatic skin using a combination of laser-capture microdissection and barcoded small RNA sequencing
Project description:The skin is recognized as a window into the immunopathogenic mechanisms driving the vast phenotypic spectrum of psoriatic disease. To better decipher the cellular landscape of both healthy and psoriatic skin, we employed spatial transcriptomics (ST), a ground-breaking technology that precisely maps gene expression from histologically-intact tissue sections. Findings gleaned from computationally integrating our 23 matched lesional and non-lesional psoriatic and 7 healthy control samples with publicly-available single cell RNA seq data sets provided insights into the emergent cellular ecosystems at play in psoriatic disease.
Project description:To explore the psoriasis phenotype, we characterize gene expression in lesional and non-lesional skin from psoriasis patients. We extracted total RNA from 5mm punch biopsies taken from 14 psoriatic patients. From each patient, we obtained two biopsies, one from a lesion and the other from non-lesional skin in the same general body geography. A total of 28 samples were run on Affymetrix HU133 Plus 2.0 microarrays.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have emerged as central regulators of gene expression and powerful biomarkers of disease. Much is yet unknown about their role in psoriasis pathology. To globally characterize the miRNAome of psoriatic skin, skin biopsies were collected from psoriatic cases (n = 75) and non-psoriatic controls (n = 57) and RNA sequenced. Count data was meta-analyzed with a previously published dataset (cases, n = 24, controls, n = 20), increasing the number of psoriatic cases four-fold from previously published studies. Differential gene expression analyses were performed comparing lesional psoriatic (PP), non-lesional psoriatic (PN) and control (NN) skin. Further, functional enrichment and cell-specific analyses were performed. Across all contrasts, we identified 439 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs), of which 127 were novel for psoriasis and 11 were related to disease severity. Meta-analyses identified 20 DEMs between PN and NN, suggesting an inherent change in the constitution of all skin in psoriasis. By integrating the miRNA transcriptome with mRNA target interactions, we identified several functionally enriched terms, including ‘thyroid hormone signaling’, ‘insulin resistance’ and various infectious diseases. Cell specific expression analyses revealed that the upregulated DEMs were enriched in epithelial and immune cells. This study provides the most comprehensive overview of the miRNAome in psoriatic skin to date and identifies a miRNA signature related to psoriasis severity. Our results may represent molecular links between psoriasis and related comorbidities and have outlined potential directions for future functional studies to identify biomarkers and treatment targets.
Project description:Background: Plaque psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by the development of red scaly plaques. To date psoriasis lesional skin transcriptome has been extensively studied, whereas only few proteomic studies of psoriatic skin are available. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare protein expression patterns of lesional and normally looking skin of psoriasis patients with skin of the healthy volunteers, reveal differentially expressed proteins and identify changes in cell metabolism caused by the disease. Methods: Skin samples of normally looking and lesional skin donated by psoriasis patients (n = 5) and samples of healthy skin donated by volunteers (n = 5) were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). After protein identification and data processing, the set of differentially expressed proteins was subjected to protein ontology analysis to characterize changes in biological processes, cell components and molecular functions in the patients' skin compared to skin of the healthy volunteers. Results: The performed analysis identified 405 and 59 differentially expressed proteins in lesional and normally looking psoriatic skin compared to healthy control. We discovered decreased expression of KNG1, APOE, HRG, THBS1 and PLG in normally looking skin of the patients. Presumably, these changes were needed to protect the epidermis from spontaneous activation of kallikrein-kinin system and delay the following development of inflammatory response. In lesional skin, we identified several large groups of proteins with coordinated expression. Mainly, these proteins were involved in different aspects of protein and RNA metabolism, namely ATP synthesis and consumption; intracellular trafficking of membrane-bound vesicles, pre-RNA processing, translation, chaperoning and degradation in proteasomes/immunoproteasomes. Conclusion: Our findings explain the molecular basis of metabolic changes caused by disease in skin lesions, such as faster cell turnover and higher metabolic rate. They also indicate on downregulation of kallikrein-kinin system in normally looking skin of the patients that would be needed to delay exacerbation of the disease.