Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease affects 3% of the United Kingdom's population and 7.5 million people in the United States are affected. This disease causes plaque formation on the skin due to an increased rate of skin cell growth. Psoriasis is triggered by environmental factors such as alcohol and stress, throat infections, injuries and other immune disorders. There are five types of psoriasis however plaque psoriasis is one of the most common. The first gene linked to plaque psoriasis has been identified by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The team of researchers found that rare mutations in the CARD14 gene, when activated by an environmental trigger, can lead to plaque psoriasis.
Immunocytochemistry/Immunofluorescence: CARD14 Antibody
This discovery has been made after two decades of trying to identify a single gene involved in the autoimmune disease. Findings have reported a rare mutation in the CARD14 gene, in a large family in which plaque psoriasis was prevalent. This suggests that the mutation is inherited, however studies have also showed that the mutation can develop without being inherited. The parents of a three year old girl who suffered from pustular psoriasis, did not have the autoimmune disease. The three year old girl however, did have a mutation of the CARD14 gene. Currently there are many treatments available for those suffer with this disorder, however, identifying the first gene could lead to better targeted therapies.
Novus Biologicals offers CARD14 reagents for your research needs including:
