Abstract: We used an avidin-biotin-complex immunoperoxidase technique with anti-epidermal growth factor (EGF) polyclonal antibody and anti-EGF receptors (EGFR) monoclonal antibody to investigate the skin lesions from 20 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and normal skin from 10 healthy volunteers.Our results showed that: (1) The immunoreactive proteins of EGF and EGFR were primarily restricted to the hasal cells and suprabasal keratinocytes in both normal epidermis and uninvolved psoriatic epidermis; (2) EGF and EGFR were distributed in all epidermal layers of active psoriatic lesions, and elevated levels of EGF and EGFR were seen in the mid and upper epidermal layers; (3) The immunoreactive proteins of EGF and EGFR were absent in the stratum corneum and decreased in the upper epidermal layers in regressing psoriatic lesions.It is suggested that EGF and EGFR may play an important role in the hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes seen in psoriasis.

Key words: Psoriasis, Epidermal growth factor, Receptors, epidermal growth factor