The Clinical Genetics of Psoriasis

Title: The Clinical Genetics of Psoriasis

Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Author(s): E. Campalani and J. N.W.N. Barker

Affiliation:

Keywords: psoriasis, epidemiology, prevalence, genetics, pathogenesis, multifactorial disease

Abstract: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin affecting approximately 2% of Caucasians. Psoriasis has a worldwide distribution, with prevalence varying according to race and geographic location. Numerous population-, family- and twin-based studies point to a very strong genetic component of this disease. Psoriasis is a complex disease, as suggested by a very unclear and variable pattern of inheritance and a higher frequency in families of dizygotic twins than in those of monozygotic twins. So far 9 psoriasis susceptibility loci have been identified (PSORS1-9) but only three (PSORS1, PSORS2 and PSORS4) have been replicated in more than one study. The strongest genetic association has been found with the HLA-C region on the short arm of chromosome 6. Failure to reach 100% concordance in monozygotic twins points to a multifactorial aetiology of psoriasis where environmental factors play an important role in genetically predisposed individuals. Clinical, histological and ultrastructural evidence suggests that psoriasis is a T cellmediated disease where T cell activation is followed by release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leukocytic infiltration of the skin, abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and angiogenesis. It is not known which exogenous or endogenous antigen(s) is responsible for triggering T cell activation or which genes play a fundamental role in psoriasis. Research is being carried out in an attempt to answer these questions. Here we review the main pathogenetic and epidemiological aspects of this skin condition.

Cite this article as:

Campalani E. and Barker N.W.N. J., The Clinical Genetics of Psoriasis, Current Genomics 2005; 6 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389202053202157