Downregulation of intraepidermal nerve fiber densities in psoriasis

초록

Recent evidence in psoriasis suggests that alterations in cutaneous nerve fibers may play a crucial role in its pathogenesis, yet specific changes in intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) require further understanding. The purpose was to quantify IENF density (IENFD) in psoriatic lesions and non-lesional skin to investigate its relationship with disease severity and pruritus. Histopathologically confirmed psoriasis patients were retrospectively analyzed. IENFD was measured using immunofluorescence staining of paraffin-embedded skin samples. The results presented a significant reduction in IENFD in psoriatic lesions compared to non-lesional skin (p < 0.01). However, no significant correlation was observed between IENFD and disease or itch severity. These findings align with a few studies reporting reduced IENFD in psoriatic skin and suggest potential neural involvement in psoriasis. The study also highlights the utility of paraffin-embedded tissue for IENF analysis often processed by cryosectioning, expanding its applicability for future research.

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