J Korean Med Sci.  2010 Oct;25(10):1506-1512. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.10.1506.

Toll-like Receptors and Antimicrobial Peptides Expressions of Psoriasis: Correlation with Serum Vitamin D Level

• Kim SK
• Park S
• Lee ES

• KMID: 2157857
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.10.1506

Abstract

To evaluate the association of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and vitamin D receptors (VDRs) in psoriasis, lesional (PP) and perilesional skin (PN) from psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and healthy controls (NN) were studied by immunohistochemistry. Compared with PN, AD and NN skin, dysregulated expression of TLRs, AMPs and VDR was detected in PP skin. Noteworthy, our results showed altered correlation between TLR2 and VDR expression in PP and PN skin. Human beta defensin 2 (HBD2) and cathelicidin (LL-37) expressions in the PP skin were higher in serum vitamin D sufficient (VDS) groups than serum vitamin D deficient (VDD) groups. Negative correlation was found between TLR2 and VDR expression in the PP skin of VDD groups. However, positive correlation was noted in the PP skin of VDS groups. Based on the present results, therapies targeting the activity of TLRs, AMPs and vitamin D, including modulation of the TLR-VDR pathways, might provide new therapeutic approaches to the psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases.

Keyword

Psoriasis; Toll-Like Receptors; Antimicrobial Peptides; Vitamin D

MeSH Terms

Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*metabolism
Female
Humans
Male
Psoriasis/*metabolism
Receptors, Calcitriol/metabolism
Toll-Like Receptors/*metabolism
Vitamin D/*blood
beta-Defensins/metabolism

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The immunohistochemical studies of psoriasis lesional skin (PP) and perilesional normal skin (PN), atopic dermatitis lesional skin (AD), healthy normal control skin (NN). (A) Expression of TLR1, TLR2 and TLR4. (B) Expression of HBD2, HBD3 and LL-37. (C) Expression of VDR (×100, inset: ×400).

• 

  Fig. 2 PA/EA of psoriasis lesional skin (PP) and perilesional normal skin (PN), atopic dermatitis lesional skin (AD), healthy normal control skin (NN) by quantitative analysis. (A) Expression of TLR1, TLR2 and TLR4. (B) Expression of HBD2, HBD3 and LL-37. (C) Expression of VDR. *P<0.05; †P<0.01. PA/EA, Ab positive area per measured epidermal area.

• 

  Fig. 3 Correlation between TLRs, AMPs and VDR expressions and PASI score in skin sample of psoriasis. (A) The expression of TLR2 shows a positive correlation with the expression of TLR1 in psoriasis lesional skin (r=0.493, P=0.001). (B) The PASI score shows a positive correlation with the expression of TLR4 in psoriasis lesional skin (r=0.278, P=0.041). (C) The expression of TLR2 showed a negative correlation with the expression of VDR in psoriasis lesional skin (r=0.390, P=0.045). (D) The expression of TLR2 shows a positive correlation with the expression of VDR in normal skin of psoriasis (r=0.439, P=0.019).

• 

  Fig. 4 Different expression and correlation of TLRs, AMPs and VDR in psoriasis lesional skin in the serum vitamin D deficient (VDD) group compared to the serum vitamin D sufficient (VDS) group. (A) HBD2 and LL-37 expression are significantly downregulated in the VDD group compared to the VDS group. (B, C) Negative correlation is found between TLR2 and VDR expression in the VDD groups (B; r=0.272, P=0.174), however, significant positive correlation is noted in the VDS groups (C; r=0.146, P=0.048). *P=0.041; †P=0.000. PA/EA, Ab positive area per measured epidermal area.

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