title: Expression of interleukin-6-like molecules and tumour necrosis factor after topical treatment of psoriasis with a new vitamin D analogue (MC 903).
abstract: Skin biopsies from 5 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were examined to test the effect of topical treatment with a new synthetic vitamin D3 analogue, MC 903, on epidermal interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). Skin biopsies, taken before therapy and after one and 2 weeks of therapy were examined immunohistologically. IL-6 was visualized using a partially purified polyclonal antiserum to crude supernatants of activated human blood monocytes before and after absorption with recombinant human IL-6. TNF alpha was demonstrated using a specific polyclonal antiserum to human recombinant TNF alpha. Both the intensity and extension of staining for IL-6, but not for TNF alpha, were increased in lesions compared with unaffected skin. During therapy with MC 903 a decline in the staining intensity for IL-6, but not for TNF alpha, was observed in both lesional and unaffected skin. Placebo-treated lesions, however, remained unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oxholm
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oxholm
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Staberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendtzen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004817:Epidermis / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D009824:Ointments; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol