Altered Distribution and Expression of Syndecan-1 and -4 as an Additional Hallmark in Psoriasis

Abstract

Syndecans act as independent co-receptors to exert biological activities and their altered function is associated with many pathophysiological conditions. Here, syndecan-1 and -4 were examined in lesional skin of patients with psoriasis. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed altered syndecan-1 distribution and revealed absence of syndecan-4 expression in the epidermis. Fibronectin (FN)—known to influence inflammation and keratinocyte hyperproliferation via α5β1 integrin in psoriasis—was also decreased. Syndecan-1 and -4 expression was analyzed in freshly isolated lesional psoriatic human keratinocytes (PHK) characterized based on their proliferation and differentiation properties. mRNA levels of syndecan-1 were similar between healthy and PHK, while syndecan-4 was significantly decreased. Cell growth and release of the pro-inflammatory Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFα) were selectively and significantly induced in PHKs plated on FN. Results from co-culture of healthy keratinocytes and psoriatic fibroblasts led to the speculation that at least one factor released by fibroblasts down-regulate syndecan-1 expression in PHK plated on FN. To assay if biological treatments for psoriasis target keratinocyte proliferation, gelatin-based patches enriched with inteleukin (IL)-17α or TNFα blockers were prepared and tested using a full-thickness healthy epidermal model (Phenion®). Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that both blockers impacted the localisation of syndecan-1 within the refined epidermis. These results provide evidence that syndecans expression are modified in psoriasis, suggesting that they may represent markers of interest in this pathology.

3D-Printed Chitosan-Based Hydrogels Loaded with Levofloxacin for Tissue Engineering Applications

“…PVA, as a semicrystalline polymer, exhibits five typical diffraction peaks in the range of 10–50°, i.e., the diffraction peak crystal planes at 11°, at 19°, at 20°, at 23°, and a compound peak of crystalline planes of at around 40.5° . Gel has a semicrystalline structure originating from α-helix and triple-helical structure, presenting characteristic peaks at 2θ = 20° . PCG showed only the peak at 20° with low intensity.…”

“…67 Gel has a semicrystalline structure originating from α-helix and triple-helical structure, presenting characteristic peaks at 2θ = 20°. 68 PCG showed only the peak at 20°with low intensity. The decreased intensity and the disappearance of the other peaks of PVA and CS indicate a reduction in the degree of crystallinity of the scaffold due to the interactions among the molecules of PVA, Gel, and CS.…”