Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 in progressive plaque psoriasis and their clinical significance.Methods Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)technique was applied to semi-quantatatively analyze CXCR1 and CXCR2 mRNA expression in peripheral blood polymorphonuclears(PMNs)from 30 cases of psoriatic patients,14 of the 30 patients which were treated until the 70% of skin lesions resolved,and 30 healthy controls.The correlation between CXCR1/2 and psoriatic area and severity index(PASI)was evaluated.Results CXCR1 and CX-CR2 mRNA levels in PMNs from psoriatic patients were 1.30±1.18 and 1.62±0.97,respectively,which were markedly higher than those in normal controls(0.56±0.36,0.74±0.58,respectively)and treated patients(0.49±0.34,0.51±0.51,respectively.)(P<0.01).A positive correlation was noticed between both CX-CR1 and PASI,and CXCR2 and PASI(CXCR1:r=0.60,P<0.001;CXCR2:r=0.84,P<0.001).Conclusions The increased expression of CXCR2 and CXCR2 may be associated with migration and aggregation of PMNs in psoriatic lesional epidermis,suggesting that these two chemokine receptors be involved in the pathogenesis of progressive plaque psoriasis.

Key words: Psoriasis, Neutrophils, Receptor,chemokine