New research strongly suggests the iron-regulating hormone hepcidin may trigger the onset of psoriasis.
The findings were published in Nature Communications.
In a press release, study author Dr. Charareh Pourzand said: “Psoriasis is a life-changing dermatological disease. Patients face a potentially disfiguring and lifelong affliction that profoundly affects their lives, causing them both physical discomfort and emotional distress. The condition can also lead to other serious health conditions.
“A new treatment targeting iron hormone imbalance in the skin offers hope. This innovative approach could significantly enhance the quality of life for millions, restoring their confidence and wellbeing.”
Dr. Pourzand is a Reader in Biopharmaceutics (Pharmacy and Pharmacology) in the Department of Life Sciences, the Centre for Therapeutic Innovation and the Centre for Bioengineering and Biomedical Technologies at the University of Bath, U.K.
In the release, the authors note studies going back 50 years have reported high iron concentrations in the skin cells of psoriatic patients. However, the cause of this excess and its significance to the condition has remained unclear until now.
Hepcidin is responsible for controlling how much iron is absorbed from food and later released into the body. In healthy individuals, it’s produced exclusively in the liver. However, the new study has found that the hormone is also generated in the skin in people with psoriasis.
In the new study, mice developed a rodent form of psoriasis after being exposed to high levels of skin-produced hepcidin.
This over-abundance of the hormone caused the animals’ skin cells to retain far more iron than was required. In turn, this excess iron triggered both a hyperproliferation of skin cells and an abnormally high concentration of inflammation-inducing neutrophils in the topmost layer of skin. Both hyperproliferation of skin cells and excess neutrophils are features of psoriasis in humans.
Dr. Pourzand said she believes a drug targeting hepcidin has the potential to dramatically improve treatment options for all psoriasis patients.
“Our data strongly suggests hepcidin would be a good target for skin psoriasis treatment. A drug that can control this hormone could be used to treat flare-ups and keep patients in remission to prevent recurrence.
“Also, by adjusting the excess iron in psoriatic skin with customized iron chelators, we would aim to halt the uncontrolled proliferation of psoriatic skin cells. This hyperproliferation is a major focus of our laboratory’s research on psoriasis therapy, conducted in collaboration with national and international scientists from the Skin@Bath Network, including those from this study.”
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