Effects of cyclosporin A on immune activation markers in patients with active psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Psoriasis is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disease. The objective of this work was to investigate the presence of cellular and soluble activation molecules in the blood of patients with psoriasis, not responding to local treatment and to study the effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on these markers.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. The results were evaluated at baseline and at 15 days, 3, 6 and 12 months following initiation of treatment.


RESULTS
We found increased baseline values of lymphocytes and cells expressing the marker CD3+CD25+, CD54+ (ICAM-1) and CD58+ (LFA-3). Following CsA treatment, a significant decrease in the percentage of activated T cells expressing CD3+CD25+ and CD3+HLA-DR+ was noted at 6 and 12 months. Among the soluble factors studied, increased baseline serum levels of sIL-2R, sCD23 and neopterin were observed. CsA significantly reduced the levels of sIL-2R and IL-12.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there is evidence for systemic immune activation in psoriasis, sIL-2R is the most consistently increased activation marker, related to the Th1 immune response, that may be used as a marker for monitoring disease activity and response to treatment with CsA in psoriatic patients.
Economidou
J
J
Department of Dermatology-Venereology University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Barkis
J
J
Demetriou
Z
Z
Avgerinou
G
G
Psarra
K
K
Degiannis
D
D
Vareltzidis
A
A
Katsambas
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007378:Interleukins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019798:Neopterin; D016572:Cyclosporine