Section : Articles

The Role of Tyrosine Kinases in Dermatology

Tyrosine kinases in inflammatory dermatologic disease.

Paniagua RT, Fiorentino DF, Chung L, Robinson WH.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Aug;65(2):389-403. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.04.026.

  • Tyrosine kinases (TK) have been identified as critical to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases:
  1. Systemic Sclerosis
  2. Graft-versus-host-disease
  3. Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
  4. Psoriasis
  5. Pemphigus vulgaris
  6. Bullous Pemphigoid
  7. Dermatomyositis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are used in high doses in the treatment of cancers because the mutation tend to be the norm in all the cells. However autoimmune diseases are mediated by aberrant activation of wild-type kinases, against which low doses of inhibitor may be effective. The use of low doses of TK inhibitors in autoimmune disease would result in enhanced tolerance and safety.

Authors also indicate that future TK inhibitors will also include topical formulations, which may specifically treat the cutaneous manifestations of inflammatory dermatologic diseases.

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Contributors

Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland