title: Expression of the L-fucose moiety on epidermal keratinocytes in psoriasis induced by the Koebner phenomenon: a sequential study.
abstract: The expression of Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA I) binding sites on cell-surface glycoproteins has been used as a marker for terminal differentiation. Increased number of UEA I binding sites of L-fucose specificity have been demonstrated in psoriatic epidermis. The results of lectin-binding studies in a series of biopsies taken sequentially (0 min, 5 min, 24 h, 7 days and 8 weeks) after tape-stripping of uninvolved skin in 12 psoriatic patients (three of whom were taking diltiazem, a calcium blocker at the time of the study) and six controls are presented. UEA I binding sites, which were expressed on the granular layer and upper layers of the stratum spinosum of pre-tape stripped uninvolved skin in psoriatic individuals, were progressively more numerous, with the expression of the L-fucose moiety on the lower stratum spinosum keratinocytes in the 7-day post-tape-stripping biopsies and 8-week biopsies, correlating with a moderate and marked increase in the proliferative index, respectively. In the Koebner-negative and non-psoriatic individuals who failed to develop psoriasis after tape-stripping, the UEA I binding sites were not expressed on keratinocytes of the lower stratum spinosum in any of the biopsies, although a mild increase in the proliferative index was noted in the 7-day biopsies. Our data suggest that the increased commitment of keratinocytes to terminally differentiate may be involved in the psoriatic process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, UCLA San Fernando Valley Internal Medicine Program, Sepulveda.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005643:Fucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; C053203:Ulex europaeus lectin receptor; D005643:Fucose; D004110:Diltiazem; D002118:Calcium