%0 Letter
%T Etanercept restores a differentiated keratinocyte phenotype in psoriatic human skin: a morphological study.
%A Donetti E
%A Gualerzi A
%A Ricceri F
%A Pescitelli L
%A Bedoni M
%A Prignano F
%J Exp Dermatol
%V 21
%N 7
%D Jul 2012
%M 22716254
%F 4.511
%R 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01518.x
%X Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) plays a pivotal role in psoriasis, an immuno-mediated and genetic skin disease. Anti-TNF-α inhibitors, such as etanercept, are widely used in clinical practice. By immunofluorescence, we investigated the expression of junctional transmembrane proteins in desmosomes (desmocollin-1, Dsc1; desmoglein-1, Dsg1), adherens junctions (E-cadherin), tight junctions (occludin), biomarkers of keratinocyte differentiation (keratin-10, K10; keratin-14, K14; keratin-16, K16; involucrin), epithelial proliferation and apoptosis in psoriatic skin before/after etanercept treatment (n = 5) and in control skin samples (n = 5). Occludin, K14, K16 and involucrin expressions were altered in psoriatic epidermis, while Dsc1, Dsg1, E-cadherin and K10 localisations were comparable to controls. Etanercept promoted the restoration of the physiological condition as suggested by a more differentiated keratinocyte phenotype and a reduced epidermal proliferation rate.