(801.7) Cellular Molecular of Osteopontin in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis

Poster Board Number: A209

Mohd Nazil Salleh (PICOMS International University College), Mira Ong Hui Juan (University Selangor), Mohd Irfan Raimi Mustaffa (PICOMS International University College)

Psoriasis (PS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of complex pathogenesis with genetic predisposition, environmental factors and immunological disturbances. Osteopontin (OPN) is known to enhance Th1 responses, inhibit Th2 ones, and take part in the modulation of Th17 cell lineage. Due to its impact on Th1/Th17 immune responses, several reports have suggested that OPN may be of pathogenic importance in psoriasis. However, the involvement of this OPN in the onset of psoriasis have not been fully elucidated. We investigate the cellular localization of OPN protein expression and histopathological features of psoriasis. The study was conducted on 40 patients affected with plaque psoriasis, 10 healthy volunteers and ER+ breast cancer as a positive control.  Severity of PS was assessed using the qualitative assessment and severity index score. Our results showed statistically significant differences in the expression of OPN, between lesional and non lesional skin as well as between non lesional skin and control group (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, there was a significant difference in the expression of OPN, between control and lesional group. We concluded that, OPN expressions and severity of psoriasis showed a strong significant negative correlation and also a moderate significant negative correlation. With this notion we postulate OPN expressions will stimulate the inflammatory response, by generating anti-OPN antibodies and eventually determining OPN expression will become a useful therapeutic tool in assessing and establishing early detection of PS.