Increased cyclic GMP and decreased cyclic AMP levels in the hyperplastic, abnormally differentiated epidermis of psoriasis

The genetic skin disease psoriasis has been examined as a model system that may provide an understanding of the control of normal epidermal specialization (differentiation) and the perturbed regulatory processes in proliferative diseases. The excessive glycogen accumulation, increased proliferation and decreased tissue specialization characteristic of psoriasis involve cellular processes that have been shown to be regulated by cyclic AMP in other cells and tissues. It has also been suggested that cyclic GMP is a cellular effector that may be involved in promoting cell proliferation and other events that oppose those believed to be mediated by cyclic AMP. It was postulated, therefore, that the epidermis of the psoriasis lesion might exhibit an imbalance in the cellular concentrations of these two cyclic nucleotides. In this study the levels of cyclic AMP were measured in the involved epidermis (IE) and uninvolved epidermis (UE) from 25 psoriasis patients. The concentrations of cyclic AMP were found as reported previously using a different analytical procedure, to be significantly lower in IE based on protein and DNA. A comparison of the levels of cyclic GMP in IE versus UE of 12 other psoriasis patients showed the levels of this cyclic nucleotide to be significantly increased in IE based on protein, DNA and wet weight. We suggest that this imbalance in the ratio of these two cyclic nucleotides may have pathophysiological relevance to the initiation and/or the maintenance of the psoriasis lesion.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33811/1/0000067.pd