# PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & CHEMOTHERAPY IN PSORIASIS AND CANCER

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 1989 · $197,753

## Abstract

This proposal is a continuing study of cutaneous disease, manifest in part
by abnormalities in cell proliferation.  The goals are to obtain knowledge
on the pathophysiology of psoriasis, ichthyosiform dermatoses, and other
hyperproliferative skin diseases, that can be used to develop pharmacologic
approaches for their clinical improvement or cure.

Controls of epidermal proliferation and the influence of extracutaneous
factors on these controls will be studied in normal, uninvolved, and
psoriatic epidermis for clues to the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis.  The
biological and biochemical factors known to influence epidermal cell
proliferation and differentiation, e.g., psoriatic stimulants, physiologic
growth factors, and tumor promoters, will be examined in several
experimental models that utilize the genetically predisposed uninvolved
skin of psoriasis.  A new keratinocyte model employing somatic cell fusion
techniques will be used to study hyperproliferative epidermal diseases with
genetic components.  Fusions betwen HeLa and keratinocytes to produce
immortal cell lines containing the genetic makeup of psoriasis or other
genetic epidermal diseases will provide a valuable new tool for basic and
therapeutic studies.  By innoculating the keratinocyte hybrids into nude
mice, functional expression of proliferation and differentiation
abnormalities in vivo can be studied.  The second new model,
cyclosporine-immunesuppressed rats, which permit the long-term growth of
human skin, will greatly facilitate pathophysiologic investigations of
normal and diseased skin in vivo.

The basic cellular mechanisms by which the folic acid antagonists and
inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis selectively influence epidermal
hyperproliferation in the psoriatic process will be studied to develop
pharmacological approaches for safer and more effective forms of therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155509
- **Project number:** 5R01AR027110-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MJC5FCYQTPE6
- **Principal Investigator:** GERALD D. WEINSTEIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $197,753
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-09-01 → 1991-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155509

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155509, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & CHEMOTHERAPY IN PSORIASIS AND CANCER (5R01AR027110-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155509. Licensed CC0.

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