title: The immunologic basis for the treatment of psoriasis with new biologic agents.
abstract: Psoriasis vulgaris is the most prevalent T-cell-mediated inflammatory disease in humans. The pathogenesis of psoriasis is linked to activation of several types of leukocytes that control cellular immunity and to a T-cell-dependent inflammatory process in skin that accelerates the growth of epidermal and vascular cells in psoriasis lesions. Critical steps in immunologic activation include Langerhans cell maturation (activation), T-cell activation, differentiation and expansion of type 1 T cells, selective trafficking of activated T cells to skin, and induction of an inflammatory cytokine and chemokine cascade in skin lesions. In turn, each of these steps offers an opportunity for intervention with engineered biologic therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Investigative Dermatology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021-6399, USA. kruegej@rockvax.rockefeller.edu
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Krueger
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines