Project description:Psoriasis is characterized by hyperplasia and disrupted differentiation of keratinocytes. Keratinocytes are considered not only the target but also the critical participants. To explore the role of keratinocytes in psoriasis, we used microarrays to compared gene expression profile of epidermis between psoriasis lesions and healthy normal skin.
Project description:The study focuses on the cellular composition of the psoriasis epidermis, using single-cell transcriptomics to identify cell subsets and their interactions in both healthy and psoriatic skin. The research uncovers three keratinocyte populations and seven immune cell subsets exclusive to psoriatic lesions. A significant finding is the identification of a previously undetected population of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in the psoriatic epidermis, suggesting their role in the disease's pathogenesis. The study also highlights enhanced keratinocyte-immune cell interactions in psoriatic lesions, contributing to our understanding of psoriasis at the cellular level.
Project description:In psoriasis, neutrophils accumulate in the epidermis or scatter in the dermis, which may contribute to the inflammation by releasing a variety of cytokines, chemokines, as well as various enzymes and antimicrobe proteins (AMPs). However, the exact role of neutrophils needs to be further illustrated. To identify the differences between psoriasis neutrophils and healthy ones, we analyzed microarray expression data from 3 peripheral neutrophil samples of psoriasis patients and 3 samples of healthy controls. This study identifies that neutrophils are activated and regulated in psoriasis, and these DEGs may contribute to the development of psoriasis.
Project description:The microarray experiment was employed to evaluate the gene expressions in skin lesions of LP, hypertrophic LP (HLP), and healthy controls.
Project description:Background: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the skin. Approximately one-third of psoriasis patients develop joint involvement and are diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). While, inIn adult-onset disease, adults, the development of arthritis usually follows skin psoriasis, but approximately 15% experience arthritis first, which can delay diagnosis. While the pathophysiology of psoriasis and PsA is incompletely understood, epigenetic dysregulation affecting CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells has been suggested. Objectives: This project aimed to identify disease-associated DNA methylation signatures in CD4+ T-cells from psoriasis and PsA patients that may be used as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers. Methods: PBMCs were collected from 12 patients with chronic plaque skin psoriasis and 8 PsA patients, and 8 healthy controls. CD4+ T-cells were separated through FACS sorting, and DNA methylation profiling was performed (Illumina EPIC850K arrays). Bioinformatic analyses, including gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis, were performed using R software. To identify genes under the control of interferon (IFN), the Interferome database was consulted, and DNA Methylation Scores were calculated. Results: Numbers and proportions of CD4+ T-cell subsets (naïve, central memory, effector memory, CD45RA re-expressing effector memory cells) did not vary between controls, skin psoriasis and PsA patients. 883 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) affecting 548 genes were identified between healthy controls and “all” psoriasis patients. Principal component and partial least-squares discriminant analysis separated controls from skin psoriasis and PsA patients. GO analysis considering promoter DMPs delivered hypermethylation of genes involved in “regulation of wound healing, spreading of epidermal cells”, “negative regulation of cell-substrate junction organization” and “negative regulation of focal adhesion assembly”. Comparing controls and “all” psoriasis, a majority of DMPs mapped to IFN-related genes (69.2%). Notably, DNA methylation profiles also distinguished skin psoriasis from PsA patients (2,949 DMPs/1,084 genes) through genes affecting “cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor activity” and “cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulator activity” (GO analysis). Treatment with cytokine inhibitors (IL-17/TNF) corrected DNA methylation patterns of IL-17/TNF-associated genes, and methylation scores correlated with skin disease activity scores (PASI). Conclusion: DNA methylation profiles in CD4+ T-cells discriminate between skin psoriasis and PsA. DNA methylation signatures may be applied for quantification of disease activity and patient stratification towards individualized treatment. The aim of this study was to identify disease-associated DNA methylation signatures in CD4+ T-cells from patients with psoriasis and PsA that may be used as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers to inform treatment and care.
Project description:Background: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the skin. Approximately one-third of psoriasis patients develop joint involvement and are diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). While, inIn adult-onset disease, adults, the development of arthritis usually follows skin psoriasis, but approximately 15% experience arthritis first, which can delay diagnosis. While the pathophysiology of psoriasis and PsA is incompletely understood, epigenetic dysregulation affecting CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells has been suggested. Objectives: This project aimed to identify disease-associated DNA methylation signatures in CD4+ T-cells from psoriasis and PsA patients that may be used as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers. Methods: PBMCs were collected from 12 patients with chronic plaque skin psoriasis and 8 PsA patients, and 8 healthy controls. CD4+ T-cells were separated through FACS sorting, and DNA methylation profiling was performed (Illumina EPIC850K arrays). Bioinformatic analyses, including gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis, were performed using R software. To identify genes under the control of interferon (IFN), the Interferome database was consulted, and DNA Methylation Scores were calculated. Results: Numbers and proportions of CD4+ T-cell subsets (naïve, central memory, effector memory, CD45RA re-expressing effector memory cells) did not vary between controls, skin psoriasis and PsA patients. 883 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) affecting 548 genes were identified between healthy controls and “all” psoriasis patients. Principal component and partial least-squares discriminant analysis separated controls from skin psoriasis and PsA patients. GO analysis considering promoter DMPs delivered hypermethylation of genes involved in “regulation of wound healing, spreading of epidermal cells”, “negative regulation of cell-substrate junction organization” and “negative regulation of focal adhesion assembly”. Comparing controls and “all” psoriasis, a majority of DMPs mapped to IFN-related genes (69.2%). Notably, DNA methylation profiles also distinguished skin psoriasis from PsA patients (2,949 DMPs/1,084 genes) through genes affecting “cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor activity” and “cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulator activity” (GO analysis). Treatment with cytokine inhibitors (IL-17/TNF) corrected DNA methylation patterns of IL-17/TNF-associated genes, and methylation scores correlated with skin disease activity scores (PASI). Conclusion: DNA methylation profiles in CD4+ T-cells discriminate between skin psoriasis and PsA. DNA methylation signatures may be applied for quantification of disease activity and patient stratification towards individualized treatment. The aim of this study was to identify disease-associated DNA methylation signatures in CD4+ T-cells from patients with psoriasis and PsA that may be used as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers to inform treatment and care.
Project description:Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, debilitating, and often life-threatening inflammatory disease characterized by episodic infiltration of neutrophils into the skin, pustule development, and systemic inflammation, which can manifest in the presence or absence of chronic plaque psoriasis (PV). Current treatments are unsatisfactory thus a better understanding the pathogenesis of GPP is warranted. To assess the pathophysiological differences between GPP and PV we performed a gene expression study on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsies of GPP (n=30) and PV (n=12) lesions and healthy control (n=20) skin. Compared with healthy skin, GPP lesions yielded 365 and PV 898 differentially expressed genes respectively, with 190 upregulated in both diseases. We detected higher expression of IL-1 and IL-36 cytokines in GPP lesions compared with PV, and this occurred proximal to neutrophils. We show both activated neutrophils and isolated neutrophil proteases can activate IL-36. Diverging from the Th1/Th17 pathophysiology of PV, significantly fewer IL23A, IL17A, IFNG, CXCL9, CXCL10 and MX1 transcripts were detected in GPP lesions. Our data indicate a level of sustained activation of IL-1 and IL-36 in GPP, inducing neutrophil chemokine expression, infiltration and pustule formation, suggesting that the IL-1 and IL-36 inflammatory axes are the main drivers of disease pathology in GPP.
Project description:Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by marked proliferation of keratinocytes leading to pronounced epidermal hyperplasia, elongation of rete ridges and hyperkeratosis. The most common form of psoriasis, chronic plaque psoriasis (Psoriasis vulgaris), involves relatively stable occurrence and progression of sharply demarcated lesions, usually on the trunk and extremities, which share a combination of trademark histological features, including tortuous and dilated dermal capillaries, loss of the epidermal granular layer, and accumulation of neutrophils beneath parakeratotic scale. In this study, whole-genome transcriptional profiling was used to characterize gene expression in 4 lesional and uninvolved skin samples obtained from patients with stable chronic plaque psoriasis. Skin mRNA expression was analysed by microarray. Four individuals with chronic plaque psoriasis were enrolled. 6 mm punch biopsies were obtained under local anaesthesia (lidocaine) from uninvolved skin and a target plaque.
Project description:Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory and hyperproliferative immune-mediated skin disorder. Narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy is a convenient first-line treatment of psoriasis, though the mechanisms underlying its efficacy have not been completely elucidated. In order to improve our understanding of NB-UVB phototherapy, gene expression profiling was used to characterize gene expression in lesional epidermis from psoriasis patients undergoing NB-UVB phototherapy. Increased expression of melanogenesis pathway genes was observed to be the earliest response. At the end of treatment, genes involved in diverse biological processes were affected, such as pigmentation, cell adhesion, ectodermal development and metabolism. The relationship between gene expression and treatment outcome was further studied using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). Gene ontology analysis showed that genes responding to phototherapy and highly correlated to treatment outcome were involved in oxidation reduction, growth and mitochondria organization. In particular SPATA18, a key regulator of mitochondria quality, was found to be significantly downregulated in psoriasis, and its upregulation following phototherapy was required for optimal clinical improvement. Our data suggest that oxidation reduction is a critical event for the resolution of psoriatic plaques. Twelve patients diagnosed with plaque type psoriasis were recruited to the study. NB-UVB irradiation was administered to the whole body two to three times a week. Treatment comprising approximately 24 sessions was given during two to three months. A total of six 4 mm diameter punch biopsies were taken from lesions on each psoriasis patient: two prior to UV treatment (pre-UV), two at the middle stage of UV treatment (after about one month of treatment, mid-UV) and two before the last treatment session (post-UV). Twelve healthy age-, sex- and skin type-matched volunteers were also recruited and two punch biopsies were taken from the buttocks. RNA was extracted from Laser capture microdissected epidermis.