Defective Epidermal Protein Metabolism in Psoriasis

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Abstract
The etiology, pathogenesis, and biochemical nature of psoriasis are among the greatest unsolved problems in dermatology. In their recent textbook, Pillsbury et al. state: "It is surprising that such a common and chronic disease has not been subjected to more fundamental study."1Actually there are quite a few basic investigations available. However, the findings, such as abnormalities in the metabolism of choline2,3and possibly of cholesterol,4appear to be secondary manifestations of a more basic biochemical disturbance. The roles of these substances in the differentiation of the horny layer are unknown, and therefore anomalies in their behavior do not help to bridge the gap between an obviously faulty epidermal metabolism and the resulting scaly lesions. The most conspicuous feature of the disease is the formation of large coherent scales. In normal shedding the surface flakes in dry invisible particles.5

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