ABSTRACT
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are highly motile mammalian cells, which tend to migrate to the sites of tissue injury or inflammation. In psoriasis the presence of large numbers of PMNs within the diseased epidermis is well recognized and has been repeatedly emphasized. In most studies on PMN chemotaxis randomized groups of patients with psoriasis were investigated. Of great importance appears to be the demonstration of chemotactic factors in psoriatic epidermis. Reasons for the enhancement of directed PMN migration with autologous serum in psoriasis could be based upon differences in enzyme liberation by psoriatic PMNs. Psoriasis is diagnosed by the morphology of the skin lesions rather than the biologic dynamics of the tissue changes leading to gross pathology. In addition to the identification of chemotactic factors it is of importance to study the factor(s) which inhibit or inactivate the additional chemotactic activity in the upper epidermis.
