Histological and transcriptional study of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in uninvolved skin, acute pinpoint lesions and established psoriasis plaques: An approach of vascular development chronology in psoriasis

Henno, Audrey; Blacher, Silvia; Lambert, Charles A.; Deroanne, Christophe; Noël, Agnès; Lapière, Charles; de la Brassinne, Michel; Nusgens, Betty V.; Colige, Alain

doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2009.12.006

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Histological and transcriptional study of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in uninvolved skin, acute pinpoint lesions and established psoriasis plaques: An approach of vascular development chronology in psoriasis

Audrey Henno
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Corresponding author at: Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, B 23, B-4000 Sart Tilman, Belgium. Tel.: +32 43662469; fax: +32 43662457.
Silvia Blacher
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-R, University of Liège B23, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Charles A. Lambert
- Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Christophe Deroanne
- Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Agnès Noël
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-R, University of Liège B23, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Charles Lapière
- Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Michel de la Brassinne
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Liège, Belgium
Betty V. Nusgens
- Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Alain Colige
- Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, 4000 Liège, Belgium

Received 30 July 2009; received in revised form 3 December 2009; accepted 9 December 2009. published online 12 July 2010.
Corrected Proof

Abstract

Background

Dysregulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis could participate in psoriasis pathogenesis. Analysis of nascent psoriasis lesions should help at identifying early vascular anomalies.

Objective

To analyse vascular development, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis markers expression in uninvolved skin in psoriatic patients (N), early psoriasis lesions or pinpoints (PP) and psoriasis plaques (PSO).

Methods

Skin biopsies were taken in 17 patients in N and in PSO and/or PP. The mRNA steady-state level of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis markers was measured by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed for von Willebrand factor, podoplanin, Ki-67 and VEGFR3. Blood (BV) and lymphatic (LV) vessels expansion was measured by computer-assisted morphometry.

Results

Clinical and epidermal aspects indicated that PP are intermediate between N and PSO. While total BV area was already increased in PP similarly to PSO as compared to N, LV area in PP was intermediate between N and PSO. Mean LV size was identical in N and PP and increased in PSO, mean BV size in PP being intermediate between N and PSO. VEGF-A 189 variant was increased in PP as compared to N and PSO. As compared to N, angiogenesis markers (VEGF-A isoforms, PlGF, VEGFR2, NRP-1), VEGF-C and NRP-2 were similarly increased in PP and PSO. Keratin 16 and the lymphangiogenesis markers (VEGFR3, prox-1) were intermediate in PP.

Conclusion

These data suggest that the expansion of lymphatic vessels occurs after blood vascular development in psoriasis. Expansion of BV in PP could be followed by vessel enlargement during progression to PSO, in parallel with a decreased VEGF-A 189/VEGF-A 121 balance in plaques.

Keywords: Psoriasis, Angiogenesis, Lymphangiogenesis