title: Inverse correlation between caveolin-1 expression and clinical severity in psoriasis vulgaris.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the clinical significance of expression of caveolin-1--a plasma membrane protein involved in caveola formation, endocytosis, signal transduction and angiogenesis--in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 20 healthy volunteers were recruited. The expressions of caveolin-1, Ki-67 (marker of cell proliferation) and CD34 (marker of angiogenesis) in skin biopsies were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the level of caveolin-1 protein was quantified by Western blotting. Clinical severity was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. Correlations between caveolin-1 expression and psoriasis severity, cell proliferation and angiogenesis were analysed using the Spearman rank correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of caveolin-1 was significantly lower in psoriasis samples than in healthy skin samples. In psoriasis lesions, the level of caveolin-1 expression was inversely correlated with the severity of psoriasis, cell proliferation and angiogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of caveolin-1 expression seems to be related to the clinical severity of psoriasis, and may play a role in the abnormal keratinocyte hyperplasia and angiogenesis seen in this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: D X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051242:Caveolin 1; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen