title: Effect of vitamin D3 on the increased expression of Bcl-xL in psoriasis.
abstract: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation, which may be regulated by several mechanisms including apoptosis. In this study, we detected DNA fragmentation by the terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method and immunohistochemically examined the expression of Bcl-x and Bax in psoriasis. We determined the expression of bcl-xL mRNA by RT-PCR, and also determined the effect of vitamin D(3) (VD3) on bcl-xL mRNA expression in cultured normal human keratinocytes by RT-PCR, and the expression of Bcl-xL in psoriatic lesions before and after topical application of VD3. A large number of TUNEL-positive cells as well as Bcl-xL - and Bax-positive cells were observed throughout the epidermis in psoriatic lesions. Whereas, in nonlesional and normal skin, only a few TUNEL-positive cells were observed and only the lower epidermis showed positive staining for Bcl-x and Bax. We also observed higher expression of bcl-xL mRNA in psoriatic lesions than in nonlesional and normal skin. The expression of bcl-xL mRNA in cultured normal human keratinocytes stimulated or not with IFN-gamma and PMA was suppressed by VD3 in a dose-dependent manner, and the expression of Bcl-xL, but not Bax, in psoriatic lesional skin decreased after topical application of VD3 for 4 weeks. In conclusion, it is suggested that the apoptotic process in psoriatic lesions is in part regulated by Bcl-xL, and decreasing the expression of Bcl-xL by treatment with VD3 might ameliorate psoriatic lesions by contributing to the completion of the apoptotic process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuya
authors.forename: Megumu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higaki
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Higaki
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawashima
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D002762:Cholecalciferol