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BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that features the abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes. This proliferation could partly result from disturbances in vitamin A metabolism. Changes in psoriasis patients of the levels of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), a carrier of retinol (vitamin A); transmembrane protein stimulated by retinoic acid 6 (STRA6); and other retinol metabolic molecules have not yet been fully established. Therefore, we investigated vitamin A-related proteins in mice with imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis. METHODS: Thirty mice were divided into four study groups: two groups underwent IMQ application for 3 or 6 days (groups A and B, respectively), and two groups underwent Vaseline application for 3 or 6 days (groups C and D, respectively). Blood and skin samples from both lesional and non-lesional areas of the mice were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunochemistry, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and RNA sequencing. RESULTS: IMQ-treated mice developed erythema, scales, and skin thickening. Compared with the control groups, IMQ-treated groups had the following changes: 1) interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-23, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were raised significantly in both serum and lesional skin (all p < 0.001); 2) retinol levels in lesional skin increased slightly (p = 0.364), but no change was evident in serum retinol levels; 3) STRA6 was upregulated in both lesional skin (p = 0.021) and serum (p = 0.034); 4) RBP4 levels were elevated in serum (p = 0.042), but exhibited only an increasing trend (p = 0.273) in lesional skin; and 5) proteins and enzymes that mediate retinoic acid formation and transformation were upregulated in lesional skin. CONCLUSIONS: As the demand for vitamin A in psoriatic mice increased, retinol underwent relocation from the circulation to target tissues. RBP4, STRA6, and the transformation from retinol to retinoic acid were upregulated, which may be part of the mechanism of psoriasis skin lesion formation. We propose that a positive feedback mechanism was formed that maintained the severity of psoriasis.

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Curly wing is one of the most frequently used genetic markers in Drosophila melanogaster, but its molecular mechanism is remained unclear. Previous results have showed that physicochemical stimulation would affect the formation of the cruly wing. Our recent study found that H2O2 could not only affect the eclosion rate of D. melanogaster, but also induce the formation of curly wing. Here, we aimed to uncover the specific factors influencing the formation of curly wing in D. melanogaster via changing the concentration of H2O2 and the temperature as well as the time of H2O2 treatment. We measured the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), in order to examine the effects of H2O2 on antioxidative capacity of D. melanogaster. The results showed that the eclosion rate of D. melanogaster was inversely correlated with the concentration of H2O2. The change of temperature, H2O2 concentration and the period of H2O2 treatment affected the degree of the curl and the proportion of the curly wing. The white mutant flies responded most significantly to these three conditions, the mini-white (white gene reverse mutation) flies could rescue the curly phenotype, and responded similarly to the wild type OR. H2O2 had effects on the formation of the curly wing which contained the Cy mutation, leading to increased rate of the curly wing. D. melanogaster treated with H2O2 would reduce the antioxidative capacity. Results from real-time quantitative PCR showed that H2O2 treatment resulted in a change in gene expression. The formation of curly wing was a complicated process, and H2O2 might act as a signaling molecule or indirectly affect certain factors in the formation of curly wing in D. melano-gaster. This process might share the same signaling pathway with the Cy mutant, or might be regulated by different modulating patterns.

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BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis that is highly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Certain PG patients with no systemic disorders have been diagnosed with idiopathic PG. This study sought to clarify the difference between PG with IBD and idiopathic PG based on clinical features, laboratory tests, and medications. METHODS: Twelve patients with PG and IBD and 24 patients with idiopathic PG, who were hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2000 to 2017, were retrospectively categorized into the IBD group and control group, respectively. Data of clinical features, laboratory tests, and medications were collected and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Both groups were similar with respect to their clinical features. However, the IBD group had an increased occurrence of arthralgia or arthritis (58.3% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.007), anemia (83.3% and 29.2%, P = 0.004), and an increased percentage of antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive patients (85.7% and 0.0%, P < 0.001), compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: PG patients with IBD had increased occurrence rates of arthralgia or arthritis, anemia, and ANCA-positive status compared to idiopathic PG patients.

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