Molecular findings show the prospect of psoriasis gene therapy

University of Birmingham have announced the discovery of a protein that could be key to new gene therapies for skin problems such as psoriasis.newly discovered protein is named rN-JARID2 because it is a fragment of a larger molecule called JARID2, previously thought to exist only in developing embryos, which coordinate the formation of tissues and organs.When researchers led by Dr. Aditya Kanhere of the School of Biological Sciences found a shortened form of JARID2 in adult skin cells, they found that it helped ensure that these skin cells "differentiated" or became more specific types of cells.Dr Kanhere explains how this finding works:

in some diseases, cells lose the ability to differentiate and multiply more rapidly. Being able to redirect cells back into their normal life cycle can reduce the process behind the disease. Thisof psoriasis, which is caused by the overbreeding of skin cells. The excess cells are then pushed too quickly to the surface of the skin, causing cells that are not fully mature on the skin surface to accumulate, resulting in flaky hard-skinned red patches covered with silver scales.Psoriasis is already quite treatable, and some current biotherapy means that up to 90% of psoriasis patients can achieve significant skin improvement, while up to 50% of patients can completely remove the skin for 5 years or more. (Compiled by this web)