Critical role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of psoriasis

J Dermatol. 2017 Aug;44(8):863-872. doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.13806. Epub 2017 Mar 27.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a common cutaneous disease with multifactorial etiology including genetic and non-genetic factors, such as drugs, smoking, drinking, diet, infection and mental stress. Now, the role of the interaction between environmental factors and genetics are considered to be a main factor in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, it is a challenge to explore the mechanisms how the environmental factors break the body balance to affect the onset and development of psoriasis. In this article, we review the pathogenesis of psoriasis and summarize numerous clinical data to reveal the association between environmental factors and psoriasis. In addition, we focus on the mechanisms of environmental risk factors impact on psoriasis and provide a series of potential treatments against environmental risk factors.

Keywords: environmental factors; epigenetics; genetics; pathogenesis; psoriasis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Alcohol Drinking / immunology
  • Communicable Diseases / complications
  • Communicable Diseases / immunology
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / immunology
  • Interferon-alpha / metabolism
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / immunology
  • Psoriasis / etiology*
  • Psoriasis / therapy*
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / microbiology
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / immunology
  • Stress, Psychological / complications
  • Stress, Psychological / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Ultraviolet Rays / adverse effects

Substances

  • Interferon-alpha
  • TNF protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha