Somatostatin- and Factor XIIIa-immunoreactive Cells in Psoriasis during Clobetasol Propionate and Calcipotriol treatment

Abstract

This study describes the changes in number and distribution of somatostatin- and factor XIIIa-immunoreactive dendritic cells in the epidermis and dermis of psoriatic lesional skin during topical treatment with clobetasol propionate or calcipotriol. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the number of each cell type was increased in lesional skin as compared to normal skin. Investigation of serial biopsies from psoriasis lesions revealed a significant reduction in the number of somatostatin- and factor XIIIa-positive dendritic cells during the treatments. The reduction rate of the somatostatin-positive cells differed between the two groups and closely paralleled the healing process induced by the two treatments. These findings and the fact that somatostatin has been used in several studies as treatment for psoriasis may indicate that the somatostatin-positive cells are specifically involved in the healing process of psoriasis. The reduction of the factor XIIIa-positive cells was associated with the healing process as a whole, but showed no relation to either treatment.