Expression of the protooncogenes in psoriatic lesions

Summary The expression of cellular protooncogenes in psoriatic lesions was studied. RNA isolated from involved skin of psoriatic patients was subjected to dotblot hybridization with cloned viral Ki-ras, myc, abl, fos, src, erbB, mos, sis, fes, and yes oncogenes. RNA isolated from the aortal epithelium, peripheral blood lymphocytes, and skin of the nonpsoriatic patients was used as control. The results indicate that the expression of Ki-ras, myc, fos, and abl genes is elevated in psoriatic lesions. The data of this work suggest that the activity of cellular oncogenes may play an important role in the development of psoriasis.