Abstract: Objective To investigate the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4),nuclear factor-KB (NF-κB) p65 and heat shock-protein 60(HSP60)in progressive psoriasis wlgaris and their correlation with disease severity in psoriatic patients.Methods Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were prepared from the lesions of patients(n=30)with progressive psoriasis vulgaris and from normal control skin(n=10), then were analyzed by SP immunohistochemical technique for the expression of TLR4, NF-κBp65 and HSP60.Correlation analysis was performed among the expression levels of three factors as well as between the levels and disease severity.Results The expressions of TLR4, NF-KBp(5 and HSP60 were significantly higher in the lesions than those in the controls(t=7.33, 8.14, 3.53, respectively, all P<0.05).The expressions of TLR4, NF-KBp65 and HSP60 positively correlated individually with the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI)scores in patients(r=0.908, 0.732, 0.927, respectively, all P<0.01).Positive correlation was also found between the expression of any two factors(TLR4; NF-KBp65 or HSP60)in the lesions(all P<0.05)Conclusions The up-regulation of TLR4, NF-κBp65 and HSP60 expressions may be related to the pathogenesis and severity of psoriasis.HSP60 may be involved in the TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway.

Key words: Psoriasis, NF-kappa B, Chaperonin 60, Toll-like receptor 4