title: Influence of systemic photochemotherapy on regulatory T cells and selected cytokine production in psoriatic patients: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the skin with strong genetic and environmental risk factors and is regarded as a Th1 cell-type disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of one-month PUVA (Psoralen Ultraviolet A) therapy on a regulatory T-cell subpopulation (CD4+CD25+) and the production of some cytokines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed on the group of 12 patients with severe psoriasis. They were put on PUVA therapy for one month. We analyzed the level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells using a FACSCalibur cytometer and CellQuest Software. The production of IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma), TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha), IL (interleukin) -10, IL-5, IL-4, and IL-2 by lymphocytes was estimated by using a CBA system. The control group consisted of 11 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the production of INF-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-2, and IL-10 in psoriatic patients before PUVA application increased significantly compared with the control group. In patients after PUVA therapy we observed decreased production of TNF-alpha and a decreased number of CD4+CD25+ cells in the blood compared with the same group of patients before the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was demonstrated that systemic PUVA therapy led to a marked reduction in CD4+CD25+ T cells and a change in cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Research Institute of the Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Łódź, Poland. mcl3@wp.pl
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rotsztejn
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zalewska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trznadel-Budźko
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lewkowicz
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banasik
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tchórzewski
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Głowacka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines