Released 06 December 2007

Genetic element of psoriasis identified

A new study has suggested that a genetic variation could increase the risk of suffering from psoriasis.

An international team of researchers based their conclusion on tests carried out in Holland and Germany.

The results of the trials were published in the December issue of the journal Nature Genetics.

Tests involved 179 Dutch individuals with psoriasis and 272 controls and 319 Germans with the condition and another 305 controls.

It was found that a high number of the psoriasis patients had a cluster of genes on chromosome 8 that were uncommon in the healthy controls.

In an interview with Medscape Pathology, one of the researchers, Dr Edward Hollox, said that it was still unclear which specific gene in the cluster "is responsible for the increase in risk".

He added that one gene, called DEFB4, was the "best candidate … because it is highly expressed in psoriatic lesions".
ADNFCR-1096-ID-18384046-ADNFCR

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