Purpose: Psoriasis vulgaris, one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory skin diseases,
is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Autophagy, an intracellular degradation
system is essential for cell survival and differentiation, and its dysfunction may contribute
to metabolic diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 38 psoriasis vulgaris
patients and 16 healthy control subjects to 1) Assess immunohistochemical (IHC) expression
of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3); 2) Evaluate the relationship between
Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, and LC3 expression.
Patients and Methods: PASI score was evaluated for all psoriasis patients. Lipid profile,
blood sugar, and CRP were done for all patients and controls. A punch biopsy was taken
from lesional and perilesional skin of psoriasis patients and normal skin of the controls.
Tissue sections were prepared. IHC LC3 staining was done and evaluated.
Results: LC3 was nearly absent, in the epidermis of the lesional skin of psoriasis while it
was strong among control (p=0.001). LC3 expression in the lesional skin of psoriasis
vulgaris was lower than its expression in perilesional (p=0.001). However, LC3 expression
was not significantly changed with PASI or the presence/absence of MetS.
Conclusion: A potential link between psoriasis vulgaris and autophagy as assessed by LC3
could be present. LC3 was down-regulated in psoriasis lesions than in normal skin. However,
its expression did not change with PASI or MetS. An autophagy enhancer might be used as
a possible therapeutic target in psoriasis vulgaris patients.