Dyslipidemia initiates keratinocytes proliferation through upregulation of lncRNA NEAT in psoriasis patients.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory immune-mediated and hyper proliferative skin disorder that has underlying genetic factors. Psoriasis can result from interaction of cytokines between keratinocytes and T-lymphocytes. NEAT is a lncRNA involved in immune modulation and has been previously studied in cancers. This study aims to clarify the unprecedented role of NEAT in psoriasis pathogenesis. METHODS: The study was conducted on 50 healthy control subjects and 50 psoriasis patients. Blood samples from all participants were collected for analysis of their lipid profile. qRT-PCR was done for lncRNA NEAT, TNF-α, VEGF genes expression. The levels of ROS and caspase-3 were estimated by ELISA. ROC analysis was done to detect the diagnostic value of lncRNA NEAT gene expression. RESULTS: Dyslipidemia is more prevalent among psoriasis patients. A significant up regulation in lncRNA NEAT, TNF-α, VEGF genes expression (p value˂0.001) in psoriasis patients in addition to significant increase in ROS and caspase-3 levels (p value˂0.001) in compare to controls. Additionally, a positive significant correlation between TNF-α, ROS, NEAT, caspase-3 and dyslipidemia. NEAT had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.931 (95% CI 0.844-0.978, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemia is an initiating signal in psoriasis pathogenesis that creates a state of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. This state induces keratinocytes proliferation and release of NEAT with subsequent caspase-3 activation to counteract the proliferating cells. NEAT could be considered as a good diagnostic biomarker for psoriasis.

Platelet-rich plasma versus carboxytherapy in the treatment of periorbital dark circles: A split-face study.

BACKGROUND: Periorbital hyperpigmentation is a recurrent problem in dermatologic clinics that affect the patients' quality of life and their psychological status. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may serve as a source of different growth factors which may reduce the pigmentation in this problem. Carboxytherapy is carbon dioxide infusion into human tissue for therapeutic purposes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy of PRP and carboxytherapy in the treatment of periorbital dark circles (PODC). Histopathological evaluation was also done. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Split-face study of 23 patients with PODC treated with PRP at the right side and carboxytherapy at the left side. Patients received four sessions; one session/week. Final follow-up evaluation was done 3 months after the last session by clinical and histopathological assessment. RESULTS: PRP showed significant better response (p = 0.002), shorter downtime, and tolerable side effects than caboxytherapy. Reduction in area percent of melanin after PRP injections showed 46.6% improvement, while after carboxytherapy, it showed only 14.3% improvement. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that PRP is more effective and tolerable than caboxytherapy in the treatment of PODC.

The role of LncRNA MALAT-1 and MiRNA-9 in Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder manifested by recurrent episodes of scaly, red, itchy skin patches that occur within apparently normal skin. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to detect the expression of serum and tissue (lesion and non-lesion) LncRNA MALAT-1 and MiRNA-9 that might be used as biomarkers for psoriasis. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 60 psoriasis patients and 40 controls, as well as 4 mm punch biopsy from lesional and non lesional skin of psoriatic patient and normal skin of healthy controls. Expression of LncRNA MALAT-1 and miRNNA-9 in serum and tissues was detected by real time qRT-PCR. RESULTS: a statistically significant increase in the expression of MALAT-1 in lesional and non-lesional skin and serum of psoriatic patients in comparison to controls were detected. Moreover, there was statistically significant increase in serum MiRNA-9 in patients in comparison to controls, while its tissue level was significantly lower in patients. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the dysregulation of LncRNA MALAT-1 and miRNA-9 in psoriasis. Elevated expression of MALAT-1 in lesional skin of psoriatic patients compared to non-lesional skin may possibly contribute to the development of psoriatic plaques.

A potential association between psoriasin to rs4819554 of IL-17RA gene polymorphism in psoriasis Egyptian patients.

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is one of the pro-inflammatory cytokine. Psoriasin is a noticeably over-expressed protein found in the skin lesions of psoriatic patients. Our current study was planned to examine the association of (- 947 A/G) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in IL-17RA promoter region (rs4819554) with psoriasis susceptibility in Egyptian psoriatic patients. Our study included 100 patients and 100, age as well as sex matched, control groups. IL-17RA SNP association was studied using allelic discrimination. RT-qPCR and ELISA were done to assess IL-17 expression. ELISA was performed to assess psoriasin expression. Our study showed a significant association between IL-17 rs4819554 SNP and psoriasis risk, evidenced by higher G allele and AG genotype frequencies in psoriatic patients when compared to controls (allelic: OR 2.283, 95% CI 1.321-3.946, p = 0.003, and genotype: OR 3.026, 95% CI 1.356-6.752, p = 0.007). Additionally, serum psoriasin level was significantly increased when comparing psoriatic patients to controls (p = 0.0003). Moreover, significant increase in IL 17 gene and protein level in AA, AG psoriatic genotypes compared to the corresponding genotypes in normal control (p = 0.0004). IL-17 rs4819554 is significantly associated with psoriasis, and with psoriasin level, in the Egyptian population.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α- 308 G/A gene polymorphism (rs1800629) in Egyptian patients with alopecia areata and vitiligo, a laboratory and in silico analysis.

PURPOSE & METHODS: Several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the TNF-α gene can cause variations in the gene regulatory sites and act as risk factors for some autoimmune disorders as alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo. This study aimed to detect the serum TNF-α (sTNF) level (by ELISA) and the rs1800629 (by real-time PCR) among AA and vitiligo Egyptian patients and to determine their relation with disease duration and severity. In silico analysis of this SNP to study the molecular regulation of the mutant genotypes was also done. RESULTS: In AA patients, no risk was associated with the mutant genotypes vs. the normal genotype, or with A allele vs. G allele. The risk of vitiligo was significantly higher with the G/A and A/A genotypes compared with HCs (p = 0.011). Similarly, a significantly increased risk was noted in patients with A allele vs. G allele (p<0.0001). In AA and vitiligo patients, a significant increase in sTNF-α levels was noted in the mutant G/A genotypes vs. the normal G/G genotype (p<0.0001) and in the A allele vs the G allele (p<0.0001). According to the in silico analysis, this SNP could mainly affect the SP1 transcription factor binding site with subsequent effect on TNF-α expression. CONCLUSION: According to results of the laboratory and the in silico study, the mutant TNF-α (308) genotypes were risk factors that conferred susceptibility to vitiligo among Egyptian patients but had no effect on the susceptibility to AA.