Scientists find gene that increases the risk of psoriasis

Alteration in sequence of some genes is associated with diseases in humans. Screening patients for the presence of such genetic changes helps doctors to ascertain risk and devise personalized treatment. It also helps in counselling parents about the risk of having the disease in their children.

Scientists at the Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, and Department of Dermatology, SSKM Hospital, Kolkata have found that the gene IL12B is associated with psoriasis in Indian patients.

Psoriasis is a skin disease where the skin cells divide rapidly and form thick, red, dry, and itchy scales. It develops due to a faulty immune system that triggers skin cells to grow uncontrollably. Patients get these rashes mostly on face, neck, head, and joints. The cause of the disease is unknown but some individuals are genetically predisposed to having this disease.

A picture showing Psoriasis infection on a patient's hand. 

Scientists in Kolkata studied 814 patients from Eastern India with mild to severe psoriasis. Individuals with psoriasis were more likely to have alterations in the IL12B gene. Both their blood serum and skin lesions also had high levels of IL12B. They published their finding in the Journal of Human Genetics.

IL12B gene produces Interleukin-12 protein in the body. It induces inflammation by hyper activating the immune system. “We found that IL12B gene in strongly genetically associated with the pathogenesis of psoriasis. This indicates that IL12B might be playing a prominent role in psoriasis”, say scientists Aditi Chandra, Swapan Senapati, Saurabh Ghosh, Gobinda Chatterjee, and Raghunath Chatterjee. 

This story was published by FirstPost and India ScienceWire.

Reference: Journal of Human Genetics: 1–7.