Pathogenic Role of Cytokines in Psoriasis

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study is determination of the role of certain pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Material and methods. The 110 patients with plaque form of psoriasis of moderate severity were examined, who were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 includes 65 patients (43 men and 22 women) from 18 to 64 years old with a duration of disease from 1 year to 39 years. The traditional treatment (detoxification, antioxidant, antihistamine, multivitamin, membrane stabilizing, local anti-inflammatory) was prescribed to the patients of group 1. Group 2 includes 45 patients from 18 to 65 years old (31 men and 14 women) with a duration of disease from 6 months to 32 years. The alternative treatment (with traditional therapy, the hepatoprotectors was also used) was prescribed to the patients of group 2. The control group makes 18 practically healthy periodic donors (9 men and 9 women) from 19 to 57 years old. The level of IFNγ, TNFα, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-10 and TGFβ was investigated in the serum of psoriatic patients by ELISA (commercial kits of Demeditec Diagnostics GmbH were used). Results. Before the treatment, the significant increase of level of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and significant decrease of level of anti-inflammatory cytokines were seen in both groups of patients with psoriasis compared with the control group. After the treatment, the level of proinflammatory cytokines is significantly reduced and the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines is significantly increased in group 1, approaching to the normal values. In group 2, the level of proinflammatory cytokines decreases more than in group 1 after the treatment. The level of anti-inflammatory cytokines also increases more than in group 1 (high treatment efficiency). The intensity of the rate of decrease of PASI after treatment in patients of group 2 is at least 1.2 times higher than in I group, of DLQI after treatment in patients of group 2 is at least 1.44 times higher than in group 1. Conclusions. The registered changes in the serum of patients with moderate severity of papular-plaque form of psoriasis indicate their essential role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.