Human β-defensin-2 and psoriasin are overexpressed in lesions of acne inversa

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2008.12.033

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Volume 61, Issue 1, July 2009, Pages 58-65

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2008.12.033 Get rights and content

Background

Acne inversa is a chronic inflammatory disorder of apocrine gland-bearing skin. The role of the innate immune system in the pathogenesis of the disease is controversial.

Objectives

We investigated the expression of antimicrobial peptide/proteins in acne inversa.

Methods

Tissue samples were obtained from patients with acne inversa and compared with normal-appearing skin. The expression of psoriasin and human β-defensin (hBD)-2 on messenger RNA and protein level was analyzed.

Results

Both messenger RNA and protein levels of psoriasin and hBD-2 were significantly increased in acne inversa. Macrophages expressing hBD-2 were found in the dermis.

Limitations

Small sample size is a limitation.

Conclusions

Antimicrobial peptide/proteins are overexpressed in acne inversa lesions as compared with normal-appearing skin. The site of the major expression depends on the particular antimicrobial peptide/protein. Psoriasin is overexpressed in epidermal keratinocytes whereas hBD-2 is produced mainly by dermal macrophages, leaving a relative deficiency of hBD-2 in the epidermis of acne inversa lesions.

Section snippets

Samples from patients

The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients enrolled in this study. Tissue samples were obtained from 6 patients with acne inversa (4 women and 2 men) with median age of 35 years (range 24-41). Diagnosis was based on clinical and histopathological criteria. Patients had a long-standing history (at least 6 months) of chronic axillary or inguinal acne inversa. After surgical excision, tissue

Phenotypic analysis of infiltrating mononuclear cells

To assess the intensity of the inflammation and to characterize the infiltrating cells, we performed immunohistochemical analysis on serial tissue sections of chronic inflamed acne inversa lesions and on normal-appearing human skin serving as control. Expression of different cell markers in the dermis and epidermis was separately assessed. The mean number of stained cells (±SEM)/mm² is listed in Table I. When compared with normal-appearing skin controls, there was a substantial increase in

Psoriasin is overexpressed in acne inversa

Psoriasin is constitutively expressed at low levels in keratinocytes of normal epidermis. It can be found at high levels in inflamed and hyperproliferative conditions of the skin. In addition to its antimicrobial properties,⁷ psoriasin can act as a chemotactic agent and activate neutrophils, thereby enhancing host defense functions.¹⁴

Our findings indicate that psoriasin is significantly overexpressed in the upper layers of the epidermis in acne inversa. In normal-appearing skin, psoriasin is

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: Supported by a grant from the Swiss National Foundation (Nr 3200B0-100232).

: Conflicts of interest: None declared.

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Original articleHuman β-defensin-2 and psoriasin are overexpressed in lesions of acne inversa

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Limitations

Conclusions

Section snippets

Samples from patients

Phenotypic analysis of infiltrating mononuclear cells

Psoriasin is overexpressed in acne inversa

J Invest Dermatol

J Invest Dermatol

J Invest Dermatol

J Invest Dermatol

Curr Opin Immunol

J Invest Dermatol

J Invest Dermatol

Toll-like receptor 2 is highly expressed in lesions of acne inversa and colocalizes with C-type lectin receptor

Br J Dermatol

Hidradenitis suppurativa or acne inversa: a clinicopathological study of early lesions

Br J Dermatol

Vulvar hidradenitis suppurativa: immunohistochemical evaluation of apocrine and eccrine involvement

J Reprod Med

Long-term efficacy of a single course of infliximab in hidradenitis suppurativa

Br J Dermatol

Allergic airway inflammation inhibits pulmonary antibacterial host defense

J Immunol

Original article
Human β-defensin-2 and psoriasin are overexpressed in lesions of acne inversa