title: Immunohistochemical analysis of keratinocyte growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 10 expression in psoriasis.
abstract: The pathogenic mechanism underlying the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in psoriasis is still not completely clarified. The production of cytokines released by activated T lymphocytes infiltrating the upper dermis probably has a crucial role. Even dermal fibroblasts can participate in the process through the secretion of growth factors, and some studies have reported an increased expression of the insulin-like growth factor 1. Few studies, however, have focused on the possible involvement of the keratinocyte growth factor (KGF/FGF-7) and the fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF-10/KGF-2), which are secreted by fibroblasts and stimulate keratinocyte proliferation acting through a receptor specifically expressed by epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of KGF and FGF-10 on the skin of patients with psoriasis by immunohistochemical analysis and to evaluate the correlation with the lymphocyte infiltrate and the epidermal proliferation. Immunostaining for KGF and FGF-10 showed that both the growth factors are upregulated in the upper dermis of psoriatic skin, and that the expression is correlated with the presence of T-cell infiltrate and with keratinocyte proliferation. Our data suggest that in psoriatic lesions activated lymphocytes can stimulate fibroblasts to produce KGF and FGF-10, which in turn contribute to sustain the hyperproliferative status of the keratinocytes.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Dermatologico San Gallicano, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardinali
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carducci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amantea
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torrisi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C496463:FGF10 protein, human; C496453:FGF7 protein, human; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors