The role of neuropeptides in several dermopathies: An immunohistochemical study

It is well known that some neuropeptides can influence different skin reactions such as thermoregulation, eccrine secretion and blood circulation. Furthermore, some authors have observed the presence of neuropeptides in several skin diseases but, as yet, their role has not been understood. In order to define this role, we investigated melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH), vasointestinal peptide (VIP), neurotensine (NT), somatostatine (SOM) in some skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (2 cases), nodular prurigo (3 cases), Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis (2 cases) and psoriasis (3 cases) using immunofluorescence technique. In patients with atopic dermatitis, our study showed positive fibers to SP, VIP, SOM while in lesional skin of nodular prurigo we detected positive fibers to SO, VIP und NT. No positivity was observed in Recklinghausens's neurofibromatosis. In psoriatic skin our findings showed a strong positivity to MSH which has never been detected before in the literature. In our opinion, the presence of MSH in psoriatic skin suggests that this neuropeptide plays a role in modulating the intensity of an immune-inflammatory activity and in the production of some cytokines known to be important in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.