Ann Dermatol.  2012 May;24(2):168-174.

Changes in Transepidermal Water Loss and Skin Hydration according to Expression of Aquaporin-3 in Psoriasis

• Lee Y
• Je YJ
• Lee SS
• Li ZJ
• Choi DK
• Kwon YB
• Sohn KC
• Im M
• Seo YJ
• Lee JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water transporting proteins present in many mammalian epithelial and endothelial cell types. Among the AQPs, AQP3 is known to be a water/glycerol transporter expressed in human skin.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between the expression level of AQP3 and transpidermal water loss (TEWL) in the lesional and peri-lesional skin of psoriasis-affected patients, and skin hydration in the lesional and peri-lesional skin of psoriasis patients, was investigated.
METHODS
The expression of AQP3 in psoriasis-affected and healthy control skin was determined using immunohistochemical and immunofluroscence staining. TEWL and skin hydration were measured using a Tewameter(R) TM210 (Courage & Khazaka, Cologne, Germany) and a Corneometer(R) CM 820 (Courage & Khazaka), respectively.
RESULTS
AQP3 was mainly expressed in the plasma membrane of stratum corneum and the stratum spinosum in normal epidermis. Unlike the normal epidermis, AQP3 showed decreased expression in the lesional and peri-lesional epidermis of psoriasis. TEWL was increased, and skin hydration was decreased, in the lesional and peri-lesional skin of psoriasis patients, compared with the healthy control sample.
CONCLUSION
Although various factors contribute to reduced skin hydration in the lesional and peri-lesional skin of psoriasis, AQP3 appears to be a key factor in the skin dehydration of psoriasis-affected skin.

Keyword

Aquaporin 3; Dehydration; Psoriasis; Water loss

MeSH Terms

Aquaporin 3
Aquaporins
Cell Membrane
Dehydration
Endothelial Cells
Epidermis
Humans
Proteins
Psoriasis
Skin
Water Loss, Insensible
Aquaporin 3
Aquaporins
Proteins
Water Loss, Insensible

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Immunolocalization of aquaporins 3 (AQP3) uisng immunohistochemisty in the human epidermis. AQP3 is expressed in the stratum basale and the stratum spinosum. (B) AQP3 expression in calcium-induced keratinocyte differentiation. AQP3 from cultured keratinocyte extracts of 20 or 30 µg was loaded onto sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and was detected using a peptide polyclonal anti-AQP3 antibody. Involucrin and filaggrin were used as control makers for differentiation. (C) The [3H]glycerol uptake ability in calcium differentiated human keratinocytes. Near confluent keratinocytes were incubated in Keratinocyte-basal medium containing 1 uCi/ml of [3H]glycerol with and without 1.2 mM Ca2+ for 0 min, 10 min, 30 min, 60 min, 4 hr, 12 hr, 24 hr, and 48 hr. NHEK: normal human epidermal keratinocyte, CPM: counting per minute.

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  Fig. 2 Aquaporins 3 (AQP3) immunoreactivity in (A) healthy control, (B) psoriatic lesional and (C) peri-lesional skin. AQP3 protein expression is decreased and mislocalized in lesional and peri-lesional skin, showing a diffuse cytoplasmic pattern. (D) AQP3 staining intensity between healthy control and psoriasis. The fluorescence intensity was analyzed using an image analyzer (i-solution TM, iMTechnology, Bucheon, Korea) *p<0.05 vs. healthy control.

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  Fig. 3 (A) Differences in skin hydration among psoriatic lesional, peri-lesional, and normal non-psoriatic skin in psoriasis patients. Skin hydration was measured using a Corneometer® CM 820 (Courage & Khazaka, Cologne, Germany). (B) Transpidermal water loss (TEWL) differences among psoriatic lesional, peri-lesional, and normal non-psoriasis skin in psoriasis patients. TEWL was measured using a Tewameter® TM 210 (Courage & Khazaka).

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