The role of VEGF in psoriasis

Abstract

Introduction. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease, which affects skin and joints. Psoriasis is also commonly associated with a increased capillary permeability, and excess VEGF production . As angiogenesis is one of the key features of psoriasis, various studies focuse on the identification of pro-angiogenic mediators in psoriasic skin. Aim of the study. Studying the role of VEGF in psoriasis Materials and methods. An online database search of relevant published articles using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed, Embase and Google was performed via Google search. Results. Histopathological markers of skin in psoriasis include: the infiltration of multiple immune cells, keratinocyte hyperplasia, activated mast cells, and accentuated vascularity in the dermis. Psoriasis is also commonly associated with a increased capillary pearmibility, and excess VEGF production. VEGF-A is highly expressed in the lesional skin of patients with psoriasis compared to non-lesional skin and healthy skin. In addition, the plasma levels of VEGF-A are higher in patients with psoriasis than in healthy individuals and levels correlate with disease severity. VEGF-A is mainly produced by activated keratinocytes in the skin of patients with psoriasis. Smaller amounts of VEGF-A are produced by fibroblasts and mast cells. Conclusion. The VEGF-A receptors, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 are expressed on blood endothelial cells. VEGFR-1 is also expressed on epidermal keratinocytes in healthy skin and in the skin of patients with psoriasis. is also commonly associated with a increased capillary permeability, and excess VEGF production . As angiogenesis is one of the key features o f psoriasis, various studies focuse on the identification of pro-angiogenic mediators in psoriasic skin. Aim of the study. Studying the role of VEGF in psoriasis Materials and methods. An online database search of relevant published articles using t he Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed, Embase and Google was performed via Google search. Results. Histopathological markers of skin in psoriasis include: the infiltration of multiple immune cells, keratinocyte hyperplasia, activated mast cells, and accentuated vascularity in the dermis. Psoriasis is also commonly associated with a increased ca pillary pearmibility, and excess VEGF production. VEGF-A is highly expressed in the lesional skin of patients with psoriasis compared to non-lesional skin and healthy skin. In addition, the p lasma levels of VEGF-A are higher in patients with psoriasis than in healthy individuals and le vels correlate with disease severity. VEGF-A is mainly produced by activated keratinocytes in the s kin of patients with psoriasis. Smaller amounts of VEGF-A are produced by fibroblas ts and mast cells. Conclusion. The VEGF-A receptors, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 are expressed on blood e ndothelial cells. VEGFR-1 is also expressed on epidermal keratinocyt es in healthy skin and in the skin of patients with psoriasis.