Researchers identify genes related to chronic skin disease

SINGAPORE, Jan. 26 (Chinese media) -- Researchers from Singapore and China successfully identified genes that play key function in development of psoriasis, local media reported on Monday.

TV broadcaster Channel newsasia said researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore and China's Anhui Medical University conducted researches on a large cohort of psoriatic patients and they found a genetic variant known as the "LCE gene cluster", which is said to be able to provide protection against the development of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious disease characterized by inflamed lesions covered with silvery-white scabs of dead skin.

GIS Human Genetics Group Leader Liu Jianjun told the broadcaster that their finding suggests that compromised skin barrier function play a role in the development of psoriasis. He said the finding is important for early diagnosis and prediction of an individual's risk to the disease.