Abstract

VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR-3 (VEGFR-3) EXPRESSION PATTERNS IN PSORIASIS

Akmal S. Helmi*, Talal A Abdel-Rahim, Nesreen M Mahmoud Aboraya and Olfat G Shaker

Abstract

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs; including VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3) are generally expressed in the epidermis in humans and are associated with keratinocyte proliferation and migration. However, the role of VEGFR3 in psoriasis is unclear. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of VEGFR3, its role in psoriasis, and its association with disease severity. Materials and methods: This was a prospective single-centre study. We evaluated40 patients who visited the outpatient clinic at the Department of Dermatology Fayoum Hospital, between 2014 and 2015.The patients provided a detailed medical history, and underwent clinical examination and histopathological investigations. Quantification of VEGFR3mRNA expression was performed using quantitative real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relative quantification of gene expression in each sample was analysed by the 2−ΔΔCtmethod, and expressed as the ratio of target gene to β-actin mRNA expression. Between-group comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance and Kruskal–Wallis test, and multiple-group comparisons were performed using the Chi-square test. Associations among variables were determined using bivariate Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: qRT-PCR analysis revealed VEGFR3 expressionto besignificantly higher in lesional areas than in non-lesional areas. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that VEGFR3 is a potential disease marker affecting the pathogenesis of psoriasis owing to its effect on skin vascularity in lesional and non-lesionalregions of patients with psoriasis.

Keywords: Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs; including VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3) are generally expressed in the epidermis in humans and are associated with keratinocyte proliferation and migration. However, the role of VEGFR3 in p