Page 51 - JCBP-2-3

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Proteomic analysis of mind-body psychotherapy in psoriasis

esophageal cancer and insomnia experienced a better over the duration of 6 months, nevertheless adding up to
quality of life after MMIP. 22,24 Besides, MMIP has been 60 days). Moreover, each of them attended four sessions of
found to significantly improve skin symptoms in psoriatric on-site live group therapy and one individual consultation.
patients. 25
2.2. Participants
MMIP can relieve skin symptoms and emotions such
as anxiety and depression; however, their biomolecular Patients with psoriasis presented to our department
effect remains unknown. A clinical prospective study between 2018 and 2020 were considered for recruitment.
investigating the clinical efficacy of MMIP in psoriasis is All the patients (n = 5) diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris
currently underway (ChiCTR1800015533). Among the were confirmed by biopsy, and all patients did not receive
enrolled 85 patients with psoriasis, 42% (n = 36) of them any medication for 2 weeks before enrollment. Further,
psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) 50, and 12% age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) (n = 5) were
(n = 10) had PASI 75 after 60 days of MMIP (ongoing study, chosen. Due to the small sample size, only those of the
unpublished data). PASI 75 indicates a 75% or greater same ethnic background (Mongolian) and who were male
reduction in PASI scores from baseline and excellent were enrolled as controls. EDTA plasma samples were
disease improvement. In this study, we screened for used for isolating exosomes, which were then subjected to
26
therapeutic molecules in five psoriasis patients with PASI proteomics analysis. Further, marker validation was done
75 and pinpointed the pathways involved by analyzing in serum samples of psoriasis patients (n = 56) and HCs
their exosomes through proteomics means. To the best (n = 29). All the samples from the patients were collected
of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the before and after the therapy and were aliquoted and frozen
identification of functional proteins in plasma exosome at -80°C until further use. Plasma samples were sent to
that respond to MMIP. Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI; Shenzhen, China) for
exosome isolation, proteomics, and data analysis.
2. Materials and methods Moreover, the patient’s basic information, including
2.1. Therapy details disease period, family history, PASI score, and hospital
anxiety and depression scale (HADS), were obtained.
MMIP is a group psychotherapy that integrates traditional The HADS is a patient-reported anxiety (HADS-A) and
Mongolian medicine theory with modern psychology. depression (HADS-D) measure that comprises seven
MMIP is practiced as a form of health education and can questions for each subscale, with each item ranging from
be used by anyone who needs it. MMIP involves group 0 to 3 points (totaling 0 – 21) and higher scores denoting
therapy (live or video, with around 200 – 1000 people at more severe symptoms. According to the report, on
27
a time depending on the therapy room) and individual anxiety or depression can be classified based on the scores:
counseling. In each therapy (3 h in total), 6 – 10 cases normal (0 –7), mild (8 – 10), moderate (11 – 14), and
presented their own diseases, symptoms, and recovery severe (15 – 21). 28
course. Participants reported how they overcame their
symptoms after MMIP, followed by an experienced doctor 2.3. Exosome isolation and proteomics analysis
commenting on their individual cases. The video-based The isolation of exosomes from the plasma was performed
group therapy entailed the playing of Mongolian songs, using titanium oxide (TiO )-based technology (BGI,
announcements, introduction of the treatment and the Shenzhen, China), as described previously, with minor
2
29
therapist, exercises, and presentation of cases, culminating modifications. Briefly, 400 µL of plasma was diluted in the
with the playing of Mongolian songs (Figure 1 of reference same volume of polybutylene succinate and mixed well;
Chagan-Yasutan et al. ). In group therapy, case report- it was added to 20 mg of TiO microspheres followed by
22
based narrative therapy and hypnotic methods were incubation at 4°C for 10 min. After centrifugation, the
2
primarily utilized, and it is recommended that people pellets were obtained, followed by washing four times, and
attending group therapy should begin with individual the obtained exosomes on the TiO microsphere surface
counseling. The case analysis and comments by the doctors were treated with 20 µL of lysis buffer (2% sodium dodecyl
2
were grounded in the theories of psychoanalytic, cognitive, sulfate and protease inhibitor cocktail), followed by heating
behavioral, and supportive therapies. In MMIP, health at 95°C in a shaker at 1000 rpm for 15 min. Subsequently,
education, case presentation, and the doctor’s commentary the supernatant, denoted as the protein fraction, was
are as psychological intervention. collected by centrifugation (25,000 ×g at 4°C for 15 min).
The duration of the treatment was as follows: the patients The obtained exosome samples were analyzed using
had video-based group therapy for 3 h daily for a total of proteomics analysis described below. The experiment
29
60 days (treatment cycles might be split into two sessions flowchart is shown in Figure 1A.

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 3 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.2381