- Scientists are still unraveling the underlying mechanisms involved in psoriasis.
- Somatic mutations play a role in the development of cancer.
- A group of researchers recently investigated their role in psoriasis.
- They concluded that psoriasis is not caused by somatic mutations in skin cells.
Psoriasis is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States. Mediated by the immune system, it causes red, itchy plaques to form on the skin.
It is estimated to affect more than
Despite this prevalence and its significant impact on quality of life, many mysteries still surround the condition.
This is partly due to significant gaps in our knowledge regarding the cellular mechanisms that underpin it.
On the hunt for answers, researchers in a recent
These types of mutations, which are a normal part of aging, are due to errors during DNA repair, environmental factors, or stress.
Once a somatic mutation occurs, the cell continues to grow and divide as normal, creating a lineage of mutated cells. Sometimes, these mutations provide a competitive advantage. These so-called driver mutations help the cells colonize tissue, replacing healthy cells over time.
As these cells grow in number, they have the potential to influence disease risk and progression as well as how an individual responds to treatment.
Because mutations in oncogenes or DNA repair mechanisms can help cancer cells proliferate, cancer researchers have studied these mutations in detail.
In more recent years, thanks to the advent of new technology, scientists have started investigating somatic mutations in non-cancerous cells, including cells from the
Some…
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