Downregulation of Caveolae-Associated Proteins in Psoriasis: A Case Series Study

Abstract

We have previously identified that a structural membrane protein caveolin-1 (Cav1) is involved in regulation of aberrant keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role Cav1, Caveolin-2 (Cav2), and Cavin-1 in pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris and between psoriasis subtypes. We utilized human biopsies from validated cases of psoriasis vulgaris (N=21) at the University of Miami Hospital and compared expression of Cav1, Cav2 and Cavin-1 by immunohistochemistry staining to normal healthy age/sex/location matched skin (N=15) and chronic spongiotic dermatitis skin samples (as control inflammatory skin condition) and quantified using QuPath. Distinct subtypes of psoriasis included guttate, inverse, nail, plaque, palmoplantar and pustular. All biopsy samples exhibited a trend toward downregulation of Cav1, with nail, plaque and palmoplantar psoriasis exhibiting the most pronounced effects. Only nail and pustular psoriasis samples exhibited significant downregulation of Cav2 and Cavin-1, suggesting Cav1 to be the main caveolar contributor to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Together, these data support caveolae as pathophysiological targets in nail and pustular psoriasis, whereas Cav1 seems to be a general biomarker of multiple subtypes of psoriasis.