Immunohistochemical Expression of Heparanase-2 in Psoriasis

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory immune mediated skin disease characterized by dense infiltrates of immunocytes especially macrophages. Cross talk between immunocytes and keratinocytes is thought to mediate the disease. Hparanase 2 inhibits activity of Heparanase 1 which is involved in this cross talk by degradation of heparin sulphate chains in the basement membrane and extra cellular matrix (ECM). Objective: To assess the of Heparanase2 in psoriasis through its immunohistochemical expression in lesional and perilesional skin of psoriasis patients. Patients and Methods: This prospective case control study was carried out on a total number of 60 subjects, they included 30 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 30 age and gender matched apparently normal subjects as control group. Skin biopsies were taken for immunohistochemical evaluation of Heparanase 2 expression. Results: Our results showed significant difference between lesional, perilesional and control groups regarding the status of epidermal Heparanase 2 expression (P = 0.038). All lesional epidermal expression was negative while perilesional epidermal expression was negative in 24 (80%) cases and positive in 6 (20%) cases, control epidermal expression was negative in 27 (90%) cases and positive in 3 (10%) cases. There was no significant difference between the three studied groups regarding dermal Heparanase 2 expression (P = 0.318). Conclusion: Downregulation of Heparanase 2 could be incriminated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Heparanase 2 could have a protective role in skin.