Effects Of Curcuma On Expression Of CD45RO,VEGF And INOS In Psoriatic Lesions

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbalmedicine curcuma on psoriasis and to investigate possible therapeutic mechanism.Methods: A decoction of curcuma was applied to 22 cases of psoriasisvulgaris (progressive stage) for 2 months, and any other therapeutic treatment was avoided during this period. The severity of symptoms of psoriasis was assessed by Psoriasis and Severity Index (PASI) score before and after curcuma treatment . Tissues derived from human biopsy specimen were fixed in formalin .embedded in paraffin and sectioned .The expression and distribution of VEGF, iNOS and CD45RO were studied by immunohistochemical technique with Picture檚ystem in psoriatic lesions and 10 cases of normal skin tissue as control.Results: (1)PASI scores of psoriasis patients decreased significantlyafter 2 months' treatment of curcuma decoction (P<0. 01) . (2)The CD45R0 positive infiltrating cells were seen in dermis and epidermis in lesional skin . The number of CD45R0 positive T cells decreased significantly after curcuma treatment (P<0. 05) , still higher than control (P<0. 05) . (3) There were significant overexpressions of VEGF in all layers of epidermis . The expression of VEGF decreased markedly after curcuma treatment (P<0. 01), still higher than control (P<0. 05). (4)Overexpressions of iNOS were observed in entire basal cell layer and focal parts of prickle cell layer in psoriatic lesions. The expression of iNOS decreased significantly after curcuma treatment (P<0. 05 ) , still higher than control ( P<0. 05) .(5)There was positive correlation between the number of CD45RO+ T cells in lesional skin and PASI score of patients ( r=0. 899 , P<0. 05 ) . There was no correlation between the level of expression of VEGF and iNOS in lesional skin and PASIscore of patients (respectively r=0.661 P>0. 05; r=0.099 P>0. 05 ).Conclusions: Curcuma has satisfactory therapeutic effects on psoriasisvulgaris.The expression of VEGF iNOS in epidermis and the number of CD45RO+ T cells in dermis decrease significantly after curcuma treatment, and the decrease of CD45RO+ memorial T cells in lesional skin may be involved in the therapeutic mechanism of curcuma.