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<small>PsoriasisNet Article</small><br>

</i><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" face="Tahoma" color="#036f35">Genetics of 
Psoriasis: Basic Facts</font><i>

</i></b></p>

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Among the benefits expected to derive from the Human Genome Project is the 
identification of specific genes associated with specific diseases. While there 
is always hope that identification will be as simple as &quot;one gene, one disease&quot;, 
this is unlikely to be the case for most major diseases that have a genetic 
component. For most diseases, including psoriasis, there are probably multiple 
genes involved in producing the sequence of events that results in the 
expression of disease. Complicating the picture still further is the probability 
that genes found to be associated with psoriasis may or may not cause psoriasis 
in an individual person, depending on the activity of the genes in relation to 
one another. The activity of genes in relation to one another is often 
determined by the pattern in which they were inherited from parents.</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 14px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5px"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>
Is Psoriasis a Disease with Genetic Predisposition?<br>
</b>Numerous studies over many years support the finding that genetic 
predisposition has a major role in the pathogenesis (development of the disease 
processes) of psoriasis. Genetic predisposition means an inherited tendency to 
develop the disease. Genetic predisposition does not mean a 100 percent 
guarantee that the disease will appear; other initiating factors such as injury 
of infection may act together with genetic predisposition to set the disease 
process in motion.</font></p>
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Supporting evidence for genetic predisposition includes:</font></p>
<ul>
  <li>
  <p style="MARGIN: 1px 5px 1px 14px"><font face="Tahoma" size="2">There is a 
  higher-than-average incidence of psoriasis in relatives of people with 
  psoriasis, indicating &quot;familial tendency&quot; to develop the disease; however, in 
  some people with psoriasis no family history is evident.<br>
  &nbsp;</font> </li>
  <li>
  <p style="MARGIN: 1px 5px 1px 14px"><font face="Tahoma" size="2">There is an 
  increased incidence of psoriasis in children when one or both parents has 
  psoriasis.<br>
  &nbsp;</font> </li>
  <li>
  <p style="MARGIN: 1px 5px 1px 14px"><font face="Tahoma" size="2">In studies of 
  identical and nonindentical twins, psoriasis is much more likely to appear in 
  both identical twins than in both nonidentical twins, a finding that also 
  confirms that more than one gene must be inherited to establish genetic 
  predisposition for psoriasis.<br>
  &nbsp;</font> </li>
  <li>
  <p style="MARGIN: 1px 5px 1px 14px"><font face="Tahoma" size="2">There is a 
  higher than expected frequency of certain white cell antigens (Class I human 
  leucocyte antigens or HLAs) on cells of people with psoriasis and their close 
  relatives; this finding also supports psoriasis inheritability and also 
  suggests that the gene(s) involved in psoriasis may be on the same chromosome 
  that holds the genes for HLA. There are many types of HLA in the HLA complex, 
  and studies have shown that HLA type may be associated in some degree with 
  timing of disease onset, type of psoriasis, and disease severity (Click on
  <a href="http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/whatis.html">What is 
  Psoriasis?</a> for a discussion of disease types.</font> </li>
</ul>
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While the genetics of psoriasis remain to be worked out in detail, much is 
already known about patterns of inheritability. Persons with psoriasis who are 
worried about &quot;passing it on&quot; to children may wish to ask their dermatologist 
for genetic counseling.</font></p>
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