Expression of the protooncogenes in psoriatic lesions.

The expression of cellular protooncogenes in psoriatic lesions was studied. RNA isolated from involved skin of psoriatic patients was subjected to dot-blot hybridization with cloned viral Ki-ras, myc, abl, fos, src, erbB, mos, sis, fes, and yes oncogenes. RNA isolated from the aortal epithelium, peripheral blood lymphocytes, and skin of the nonpsoriatic patients was used as control. The results indicate that the expression of Ki-ras, myc, fos, and abl genes is elevated in psoriatic lesions. The data of this work suggest that the activity of cellular oncogenes may play an important role in the development of psoriasis.