Calmodulin levels in psoriasis and other skin disorders.

Calmodulin was measured in a range of skin disorders characterized by some degree of epidermal hyperproliferation and/or dyskeratinization. In psoriasis the marginal zone of spreading plaques was also investigated. Within the spectrum of diseases we studied, calmodulin increase proved to be rather specific for lesional skin of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis; high levels were also found in psoriatic scales. Calmodulin increase in the marginal zone of the psoriatic lesion parallelled the sharp morphological demarcation. Although calmodulin may play a role in the maintenance of epidermal hyperproliferation in psoriasis, it seems unlikely to be of significance in its initiation.