Simultaneous measurement of multiple Th1 and Th2 serum cytokines in psoriasis and correlation with disease severity.
BACKGROUND
Psoriatic plaques have been shown to contain increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-7, IL-8, and interferon (IFN)-gamma have been reported elevated in psoriatic patients.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate serum cytokine profiles in psoriasis patients by improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and to correlate these levels with disease severity.


METHODS
We analyzed single serum samples from 10 patients with active untreated psoriasis, two patients with active treated psoriasis, and five healthy volunteers for major T helper type 1 and T helper type 2 cytokines using the LINCOplex ELISA multi-analyte detection system that permits simultaneous detection of multiple cytokines from a single sample. The disease severity, including erythema, induration, scale, and surface area, was assessed.


RESULTS
IFN-gamma was markedly elevated in all sera from psoriasis patients, 33.8 +/- 1.3 pg/ml (mean +/- standard error) versus 8 +/- 1.5 pg/ml for normal controls (p < 0.01), and positively correlated with all indices of disease severity (Spearman r > 0.6). IL-8 was also increased in psoriasis patients (24.4 +/- 1.8 pg/ml) versus normal controls (3.6 +/- 1.2 pg/ml) (p < 0.05) and positively correlated with the degree of erythema (Spearman r > 0.6). Mean IL-12 levels were decreased in sera from psoriasis patients (8.5 +/- 1.2 pg/ml) compared with normal controls (42.2 +/- 5.3 pg/ml) (p < 0.01). Also, serum IL-10 levels were below detection levels in psoriatics compared with controls (6.4 +/- 1.3 pg/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
This new ELISA system allowed rapid and reliable detection of numerous cytokines in single serum samples from patients with psoriasis. We observed that IFN-gamma and IL-8 cytokines were elevated in psoriatics and correlated with parameters of disease severity while IL-10 and IL-12 were decreased.
Jacob
Sharon E
SE
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Holtz Center, Room 2042, 1611 NW 12 Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Nassiri
Mehdi
M
Kerdel
Francisco A
FA
Vincek
Vladimir
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma