title: Stress, the neuroendocrine system and mast cells: current understanding of their role in psoriasis.
abstract: Psychological stress can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sensory nerves in the brain and skin, resulting in the release of neuroendocrine and neural mediators such as, corticotropin-releasing hormone, neuropeptides, neurotrophins and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. These factors can activate mast cells to release proinflammatory mediators and some of them, for example, histamine, tryptase and nerve growth factor, can stimulate sensory C-fibers. Since corticotropin-releasing hormone, sensory nerves and mast cell numbers are increased in the psoriatic lesion, a feedforward loop can exist potentiating the inflammation. Studies in rats and mice have shown that mast cells are activated during standardized stress through corticotropin-releasing hormone and sensory nerves. Therefore, the role of stress, the neuroendocrine system and mast cells in psoriasis is discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kuopio University Hospital and University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland. ilkka.harvima@kuh.fi
authors.forename: Ilkka T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Harvima
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D036361:Peptide Hormones