BACKGROUND: Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory T cell-driven sclerotic skin condition in which skin barrier disruption frequently occurs. Inflamed and injured epithelia are a particularly rich source of antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate for the first time the expression pattern of AMPs in lesions of LS as compared with healthy skin. METHODS: Twenty-four women with LS as well as 10 healthy women were included in the study. In order to assess the expression of human beta-defensin (hBD)-1, hBD-2, hBD-3, psoriasin (S100A7), the cathelicidin LL-37 and RNase 7, real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were performed on skin specimens obtained from lesional and healthy skin of the genital region, respectively. RESULTS: Median hBD-2 mRNA levels observed in LS were significantly higher than in controls (0.15 vs. 0.008; P = 0.0037). Moreover, psoriasin (98.2 vs. 28.1; P = 0.0052) mRNA expression was significantly higher in LS lesions as compared with controls. Significant differences in mRNA expression of hBD-2 and psoriasin were also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. For hBD-1, hBD-3, LL-37 and RNase 7, levels did not differ significantly or were significant only at the gene level but not protein level. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that hBD-2 and psoriasin expression levels in lesional skin of patients with LS are significantly increased when compared with healthy controls. Whether this observation simply reflects an innate defence response caused by an increased risk of local infection, or whether our data indicate a pathogenetic role of AMPs in LS, will be addressed in future studies.
BACKGROUND: Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory T cell-driven sclerotic skin condition in which skin barrier disruption frequently occurs. Inflamed and injured epithelia are a particularly rich source of antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate for the first time the expression pattern of AMPs in lesions of LS as compared with healthy skin. METHODS: Twenty-four women with LS as well as 10 healthy women were included in the study. In order to assess the expression of humanbeta-defensin (hBD)-1, hBD-2, hBD-3, psoriasin (S100A7), the cathelicidin LL-37 and RNase 7, real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were performed on skin specimens obtained from lesional and healthy skin of the genital region, respectively. RESULTS: Median hBD-2 mRNA levels observed in LS were significantly higher than in controls (0.15 vs. 0.008; P = 0.0037). Moreover, psoriasin (98.2 vs. 28.1; P = 0.0052) mRNA expression was significantly higher in LS lesions as compared with controls. Significant differences in mRNA expression of hBD-2 and psoriasin were also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. For hBD-1, hBD-3, LL-37 and RNase 7, levels did not differ significantly or were significant only at the gene level but not protein level. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that hBD-2 and psoriasin expression levels in lesional skin of patients with LS are significantly increased when compared with healthy controls. Whether this observation simply reflects an innate defence response caused by an increased risk of local infection, or whether our data indicate a pathogenetic role of AMPs in LS, will be addressed in future studies.
Authors: Linn Woelber; Katharina Prieske; Werner Mendling; Barbara Schmalfeldt; Hans-Jürgen Tietz; Anna Jaeger Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2020-02-21 Impact factor: 5.594
Authors: Falk G Bechara; Michael Sand; Marina Skrygan; Alexander Kreuter; Peter Altmeyer; Thilo Gambichler Journal: Ann Dermatol Date: 2012-11-08 Impact factor: 1.444
Authors: John David Spencer; Andrew L Schwaderer; Huanyu Wang; Julianne Bartz; Jennifer Kline; Tad Eichler; Kristin R DeSouza; Sunder Sims-Lucas; Peter Baker; David S Hains Journal: Kidney Int Date: 2013-01-09 Impact factor: 10.612