title: The role of factor XIIIa-positive dermal dendrocytes in HIV-1-positive psoriatics.
abstract: Factor XIIIa-positive dermal dendrocytes (FXIIIa+ dd) may have an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, in that their numbers are increased in lesional skin compared with non-lesional skin. Moreover, in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma the number of these cells is also increased, in comparison with the classical type of Kaposi's sarcoma. In addition, patients suffering from HIV-1 infection may develop severe psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of FXIIIa+ dd in lesional and non-lesional skin from seven psoriatic patients with positive HIV-1 serology, and compare the results with age-, sex-, and site-matched HIV-1-negative psoriatic patients. In both patient groups there was an increase of FXIIIa+ dd in the papillary dermis in lesional skin, compared with non-lesional skin (HIV+ [P = 0.007]; HIV- [P = 0.0006]). Positive cells were also observed within the epidermis in lesional skin in both groups. However, there was no significant difference between HIV-1+ and HIV-1- groups in the number of FXIIIa+ dd in the epidermis and dermis (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that, if FXIIIa+ dd do have a role in psoriasis, deterioration of this condition in HIV-1+ patients is not due to proliferation of dermal dendrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Skin and Therapeutics Research Laboratory, Westminster Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Neer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zemelman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langtry
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Staughton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011503:Transglutaminases