title: Up-regulation of Notch-1 in psoriasis: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: The Notch pathway plays a key role in differentiation, proliferation, and influencing cell fate decision in multiple organisms and tissues including the epidermis and its appendages. The role of Notch-1 in psoriasis has not been widely evaluated; therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate its role in etiopathogenesis of this common skin disease. The current study used immunohistochemical technique to evaluate Notch-1 expression in 35 lesional biopsies of patients having chronic plaque psoriasis in comparison with normal skin biopsies, representing the control group. Notch-1 was expressed in the epidermis of both normal and psoriatic skins; however, the intensity was in favor of psoriatic lesion, and the nuclear form of Notch-1 was more frequently and diffusely seen in psoriasis. Exacerbation of psoriasis as assessed by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score was significantly associated with intense (P = .005) and nuclear form of Notch-1 expression (P = .0001). The nuclear form of Notch-1 was also correlated with female sex (P = .043). From this study, up-regulation and not down-regulation of Notch-1 may have a role in pathogenesis of psoriasis. The nuclear form is responsible for the exacerbation of symptoms, and it is the one that may disappear by the effect of psoralen and ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA) therapy.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menofiya University, Shebein Elkom, Egypt. Asmaa_elsaidy@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Asmaa Gaber
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Abdou
authors.forename: Alaa Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Maraee
authors.forename: Amany
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharaf
authors.forename: Nada Farag
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Elnaidany
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; D051881:Receptor, Notch1