IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION ANALYSIS OF CYTOKINE, PROTOONCOGENE AND TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENE-EXPRESSION IN PSORIASIS

The purpose of this study was to investigate and to compare, by in sit u hybridization, gene expression of IL-1beta, IL-8, TGF-beta1, TGF-bet a2, TGF-beta3, TGF-alpha, p53 and c-myc in lesions and in non-involved skin of patients with psoriasis. All lesional skin biopsies showed ov erexpression of IL-1beta, IL-8 and TGF-alpha mRNAs. IL-1beta hybridiza tion signals were strong in a small number of cells localized predomin antly in the dermal papillae and in the suprapapillary epidermis. Over expression of TGF-alpha was observed in all suprabasal keratinocytes, whereas strongly elevated IL-8 mRNA expression was found to be restric ted to clusters of suprabasal keratinocytes. TGF-beta3, p53 and c-myc transcripts were clearly detected in the epidermis of all biopsies, al though expression levels were comparable in lesional and non-lesional skin.