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Psoriasis Pathophysiology Essay

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Psoriasis Pathophysiology Psoriasis is a common skin disorder affecting millions of people. It affects 2 to 3% of the Caucasian population, usually in individuals between 15 and 30 years old. (Liu, Krueger, & Bowcock, 2007). There are several different forms of the disease. The most common type is chronic plague psoriasis. It presents itself as silvery-scaled patches usually on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp. Outbreaks can be triggered by infection, such as strep throat, drug-use, psychological stress, hormonal changes and skin injury. The exact cause is still unknown; however, research has provided some interesting insights into the pathophysiology of psoriasis. The most evident pathophysiological …show more content…

Although not yet verified, natural killer T cells also seem to play a role in the development of psoriasis. T cells are not the only increased leukocytes in psoriasis patients. Neutrophils, mast cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells are also increased. Dendritic cells are the other important cell of study for psoriasis. There are three subsets of cutaneous dendritic cells which include: immature dendritic cells (iDC), mature myeloid dendritic cells (mDC), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). All three are increased in patients with psoriasis. These cells “overall could equal or exceed the number of T cells in lesions.” (Jullien, 2006). Langerhans cells are one type of immature dendritic cell. There job is to “engulf protein antigens by pinocytosis, partially digest these proteins into shorter polypeptides, and move these polypeptides to the surface.” (Fox, 2008). Once they are at the surface, they are associated with histocompatibility antigen, which in turn activates the T lymphocytes. As mentioned before, this unnecessary activation of T cells will lead to the hyperproliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes. In order for these cells to be activated in a way that causes the inflammatory process associated with psoriasis, they must migrate to the skin. “Recruitment of leukocytes out of the blood stream into the different skin compartments is an active and selective process.” (Jullien, 2006).

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