Study of serum levels and skin expression of S100B protein in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: S100B protein was reported to be elevated in psoriatic patients' serum, with no previous evaluation of its skin expression, in contrast to the extensively studied S100 protein. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the serum level and skin expression of S100B in psoriasis to assess its possible involvement in its pathogenesis. METHODS: Serum level of S100B protein was estimated in 40 psoriatic patients of different clinical varieties and 10 healthy controls. S100B protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically in lesional and non-lesional skin of patients and in normal skin of controls. Relation to disease severity was also evaluated. RESULTS: Serum level of S100B protein was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (0.15±0.03 µg/l) than in controls (0.03±0.007 µg/l) (P-value <0.001) with no significant correlation with PASI score. On comparing grades of S100B protein skin expression in lesional and non-lesional skin biopsies, a statistically significant difference was found (P=0.046) with higher percentage of strong S100B skin expression (60%) in non-lesional than in lesional (42%) skin. All the control biopsies showed negative expression. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Relatively small sample size with a limited range of low PASI scores. CONCLUSION: This study points to a potential link between psoriasis and S100B protein with higher serum and skin expression in patients than in controls.

Study of serum levels and skin expression of S100B protein in psoriasis

Abstract Background: S100B protein was reported to be elevated in psoriatic patients' serum, with no previous evaluation of its skin expression, in contrast to the extensively studied S100 protein. Objective: To evaluate the serum level and skin expression of S100B in psoriasis to assess its possible involvement in its pathogenesis. Methods: Serum level of S100B protein was estimated in 40 psoriatic patients of different clinical varieties and 10 healthy controls. S100B protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically in lesional and non-lesional skin of patients and in normal skin of controls. Relation to disease severity was also evaluated. Results: Serum level of S100B protein was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (0.15±0.03 µg/l) than in controls (0.03±0.007 µg/l) (P-value <0.001) with no significant correlation with PASI score. On comparing grades of S100B protein skin expression in lesional and non-lesional skin biopsies, a statistically significant difference was found (P=0.046) with higher percentage of strong S100B skin expression (60%) in non-lesional than in lesional (42%) skin. All the control biopsies showed negative expression. Study limitations: Relatively small sample size with a limited range of low PASI scores. Conclusion: This study points to a potential link between psoriasis and S100B protein with higher serum and skin expression in patients than in controls.

Assessment of serum levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) among non-segmental vitiligo patients: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is an essential factor in the growth and maturation of blood cells as well as modulation of the immune system. Few studies have investigated its involvement in the development of vitiligo, and no studies have been performed on Egyptian patients. AIM: To assess GM-CSF serum level among non-segmental Egyptian vitiligo patients and to determine its possible role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. METHODS: Forty patients with non-segmental vitiligo and 40 age- and sex-matched subjects were assessed for levels of GM-CSF in serum using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: The patients in this study showed lowerlevels ofGM-CSF in serum compared to controls (mean ± SD was 33.4 ± 5.7 pg/ml versus 63.4 ± 7.4 pg/ml, respectively, p = 0.0001). No appreciable relation was detected between levels of GM-CSF in serum and age, sex, family history, and stressful events or disease activity, type, and extent, p ˃ 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: GM-CSF serum level may be one of the determinants of the autoimmune hypothesis in the etiopathogenesis of non-segmental vitiligo.