Beclin1 in psoriasis: an immunohistochemical study

BACKGROUND Abnormal autophagy is known to be associated with the pathogenesis of some skin disorders. The protein Beclin1 plays a central role in the machinery of autophagy. AIM To assess the expression of Beclin1 in psoriasis, using immunohistochemical study in lesional and perilesional skin in patients with psoriasis, and to compare the results with those of an apparently healthy control (HC) group. METHODS This case-control study enrolled a total of 40 participants: 20 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 20 age- and sex-matched, apparently HCs. Skin biopsies were taken from (i) lesional and (ii) perilesional skin of patients with psoriasis and from (iii) normal skin of HCs for immunohistochemical evaluation of Beclin1 expression. RESULTS Epidermal Beclin1 expression was positive in all three studied groups. There was a significant difference between the three studied groups regarding Beclin1 epidermal topographic distribution, epidermal staining intensity, H score and H-score category (P