PLA2G4D acts as a calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 enzyme with a lineolic acid-specific activity. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry of normal and psoriatic skin, as well as skin from patients with inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and mycosis fungoides, the authors determined that PLA2G4D mRNA and protein display a strong specific expression in the upper epidermis in psoriatic skin, and not in lower epidermis and dermis.
A similar distribution of PLA2G4D expression, at decreased levels, was detected in the upper epidermis of patients with other inflammatory skin conditions, while PLA2G4D mRNA and protein were not detected in normal adult skin.PLA2G4D expression is specifically upregulated in the upper epidermis of patients with inflammatory skin diseases.