Association between VNN1 gene polymorphism and the risk for psoriasis

Background Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory hyperproliferative disease. The vanin gene family [vanin-1 (VNN1), VNN2, VNN3] encodes for pantetheinase enzymes that catalyzes the conversion of pantetheine into pantothenic acid and cysteamine. These metabolites are also major players in inflammatory and oxidative responses. Objective To detect VNN1 tissue level and VNN1 (T26I) gene polymorphism, and the possible association with psoriasis. Patients and methods This case control study included 60 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 60 agematched and sex-matched healthy controls. Reverse transcriptase-PCR was used to detect the VNN1 expression and the VNN1 gene (T26I) polymorphism. Results VNN1 tissue levels were significantly higher in psoriasis patients compared with controls (P 0.001). There was no statistical difference in VNN1 (T62I) TT, TI, II genotype between patients and controls (P 0.05 in all). Conclusion Although the VNN1 was overexpressed in patients, it is unlikely that this overexpression is a consequence of the studied polymorphism. The high level of VNN1 may contribute to the development of psoriasis.