Immunopathology of psoriasis

J.T. Elder, M.D. Ph.D.

Recent work from Dr. Elder's lab suggests an important role for HLA Class I molecules in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Working with research fellow Johann Gudjonsson M.D., Ph.D., Dr. Elder is developing a novel mouse xenotransplantation model of psoriasis in order to dissect the role of HLA Class I molecules in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis at the molecular level.

Dr. Elder discovered that multiple ErbB ligands are overexpressed in psoriasis. In preliminary studies submitted to the National Institutes of Health for research funding, a collaboration between the laboratories of Dr. Elder and Dr. James Varani team has developed several lines of evidence strongly suggesting that autocrine stimulation of ErbB signaling by the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor amphiregulin is an important trigger for epidermal hyperplasia in psoriasis. New data from other researchers also indicates an important role for amphiregulin in the stimulation of cutaneous inflammation in psoriasis. This novel function of amphiregulin appears to go beyond the stimulation of keratinocyte growth. Dr. Elder is exploring the role of amphiregulin by generating a mouse model featuring conditional expression of amphiregulin in the epidermis using tamoxifen-inducible Cre-lox recombinase technology.

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