Psychoneuroimmunodermatologic Aspect of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis—Nerve Growth Factor and Romantic Love

Abstract

Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are the diseases of a chronic inflammatory-autoimmune origin. Their course is often unstable and fluctuating due to the alternating occurrence of exacerbations and remissions. Nerve growth factor (NGF) levels are increased in AD and psoriasis exacerbations, stress, and the early stage of romantic love. This phenomenon brings us closer to the thorough understanding of psychoneuroimmunology. Using PubMed, we manually searched for scientific work on psychoneuroimmunology, AD, psoriasis, and NGF tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA). Having thoroughly studied the searching results, we selected 97 relevant articles. NGF not only takes part in neural growth, but is also involved in angiogenesis regulation, whereas increased vascularity is present in psoriasis. NGF increases in AD and psoriasis exacerbations and stress, whereas the stress is a well-known exacerbation trigger. NGF activity elevation occurs also in people experiencing the early stage of romantic love. All these facts cast some light on the obscure pathophysiology of psoriasis and AD, and corroborate the validity of notions related to psychoneuroimmunology. The discovery of NGF significance in psoriasis and AD caused the promising new class of drugs, namely, TrkA inhibitors, to emerge. They are indisputably worth attention, since the current methods are not fully satisfactory and present a number of contraindications and side effects. NGF is a significant factor contributing to the pathophysiology of AD and psoriasis and targeting it in patients exposed to stress, and also in those who have recently fallen in love, may be particularly beneficial.