The role of VEGF in psoriasis: an update

Psoriasis is a common, chronic immune-mediated multifactorial skin disease. In its pathogenesis altered differentiation and hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, dysregulation of immunological cell functions, together with abnormal angiogenesis are involved. Angiogenesis is defined as the formation of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vascular bed. This complex and multistep process is regulated by different factors among which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered to be the most important. The aim of this paper is a review of the current literature considering the role of vascular endothelial growth factor in psoriasis. Many studies have focused on the role of VEGF in psoriasis and revealed its increased serum and tissue levels which correlated with disease severity. Recent data indicate that VEGF is not only responsible for angiogenesis, but also regulates keratinocyte differentiation. Moreover, it has been suggested that vascular endothelial growth factor could be a link between psoriasis and its comorbidities. So far, there are single clinical cases that reported clearance of psoriasis after anti-VEGF therapy. Therefore, the VEGF pathway might be a potential new therapeutic alternative leading to improvement of psoriasis. However, further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this therapy in psoriasis.