The mRNA expression levels of the pro-apoptosis gene Bax (P < 0.05) and the anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-xL (P < 0.05) were significantly upregulated in psoriasis lesions (n = 23) compared with HC (n = 12) by RT-qPCR, while Bcl-2 was not changed (Fig. 3a). This evidence concerns the gene BAX and psoriasis.