Scientists have identified a genetic mutation responsible for psoriasis

Scientists from the Australian National University have discovered a genetic mutation responsible for psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes raised, red and scaly lesions and can also affect joints.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system attacks healthy cells that it mistakenly perceives as a threat.

The results of the study, carried out on rats, were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, the Spanish news agency EFE reported this Monday, citing a statement from the university.

One of the researchers, Chelisa Cardines, said that if they have two copies of this mutated gene (known as IKBKB), patients with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints.

Psoriatic arthritis mainly affects the finger joints and spine, and “about 10-30% of patients develop this type” of the disease, according to the Portuguese Psoriasis Association.

The research team found that the mutation affects regulatory T cells, which normally regulate the immune system’s response to disease and which in this case promote “inflammation and promote disease,” Cardines explained.

The discovery allows scientists to now know what causes the progression of a disease that only affects the skin to one that also damages the joints, and they hope it will improve diagnosis and treatment for patients.

According to the researcher, there are studies that show that delay in diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is associated with worse clinical outcomes for patients.

There are now treatments that can help control the disease.