Effect of methotrexate treatment on the expression of epidermal-fatty acid-binding protein (E-FABP) and apolipoproteins in patients with psoriasis

Introduction: Epidermal-fatty acid-binding protein (E-FABP) is a marker of transiently amplifying cells which are formed from stem cells in epidermis. Their role is an uptake of fatty acids and metabolism. Psoriatic keratinocytes overexpress E-FABPs, which leads to acanthosis and may explain the lipid's disturbances in psoriasis. Aim: Assessment of FABP and apolipoprotein expression in patients treated with methotrexate (MTX). Material and methods: FABP expression in the lesional and perilesional psoriatic skin from 11 male patients compared to 5 healthy skin samples were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. FABP, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and B (ApoB) serum levels were assessed by ELISA. These parameters were evaluated before and after treatment with subcutaneous MTX (15 mg/wk for 12 weeks). Results: Expression of E-FABP was lower in the control group than in the lesional and perilesional psoriatic skin, before and after treatment. After treatment the expression decreased in the lesional and perilesional skin. Serum E-FABP was higher in the control group (482.855 +/- 240.550 pg/ml) compared to patients, but not statistically significantly. After MTX treatment, a statistically significant reduction was observed in psoriatic patients. ApoA1 levels did not differ in the control and patients groups, both before and after treatment. In contrast, ApoB levels did not differ statistically between the control group (1447.126 +/- 311.11 ng/ml) and patients before treatment, while they were the lowest after treatment (1081.67 +/- 117.83 ng/ml vs. 808.306 +/- 103.72 ng/ml; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our study confirms the beneficial effect of MTX, not only as an anti-proliferative effect, but also reducing the cardiovascular risk by decreasing atherogenic ApoB.