Assessment of the Effect of Metabolic Syndrome on the Autophagy Marker LC3 in Psoriasis Vulgaris Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE: Psoriasis vulgaris, one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory skin diseases, is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Autophagy, an intracellular degradation system is essential for cell survival and differentiation, and its dysfunction may contribute to metabolic diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 38 psoriasis vulgaris patients and 16 healthy control subjects to 1) Assess immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3); 2) Evaluate the relationship between Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, and LC3 expression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PASI score was evaluated for all psoriasis patients. Lipid profile, blood sugar, and CRP were done for all patients and controls. A punch biopsy was taken from lesional and perilesional skin of psoriasis patients and normal skin of the controls. Tissue sections were prepared. IHC LC3 staining was done and evaluated. RESULTS: LC3 was nearly absent, in the epidermis of the lesional skin of psoriasis while it was strong among control (p=0.001). LC3 expression in the lesional skin of psoriasis vulgaris was lower than its expression in perilesional (p=0.001). However, LC3 expression was not significantly changed with PASI or the presence/absence of MetS. CONCLUSION: A potential link between psoriasis vulgaris and autophagy as assessed by LC3 could be present. LC3 was down-regulated in psoriasis lesions than in normal skin. However, its expression did not change with PASI or MetS. An autophagy enhancer might be used as a possible therapeutic target in psoriasis vulgaris patients.