Expression of the B-cell maturation antigen and a proliferation-inducing ligand in psoriatic plaques

Background Tumor necrosis factor-a, a crucial cytokine involved in psoriasis, is a member of a growing family of proteins referred to as the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and its receptor B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) are members of this family and can modulate a variety of biological processes, including apoptosis, cellular survival, differentiation, proliferation, and immune regulation. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the degree of expression of BCMA and APRIL in psoriasis and their relation to disease severity. Patients and methods A total of 24 psoriatic patients, as well as 12 healthy volunteers, were recruited for the study and skin biopsies were obtained for BCMA and APRIL estimation using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results BCMA and APRIL were significantly elevated in patients in comparison with controls (P = 0.000) and BCMA showed a direct positive correlation with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (r= 0.71, P= 0.00). Conclusion The upregulation of BCMA and APRIL may be a consequence of the inflammatory process or a component of the immune dysregulation associated with psoriasis.