title: Long pentraxin 3: a marker of inflammation in untreated psoriatic patients.
abstract: Psoriasis is a common cutaneous disorder characterized by abnormal epidermal differentiation, proliferation and inflammation mediated by dermal infiltrates, such as T cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells and macrophages. There are renewed interest in the role of components of the innate immune system. Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-6, and -1beta involved in pathogenic phenomena in psoriasis are known as inducers of the acute phase response. Among the large group of acute phase reactants, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen are of special interest in psoriasis. The PTX-3, a long pentraxin sharing similarities with the classical short proteins. Thus, considering the numerous biological roles of inflammatory cytokines and their relationship with inflammatory markers, such as CRP and fibrinogen we have investigated the role of PTX3 in psoriasis. To this aim PTX3, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-1beta in plasma and in monocytic cultures by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 44 patients including severe and mild psoriasis were measured. An increased production of PTX3, both in supernatant of purified monocytes and in plasma from patients with severe psoriasis, was found. The significant correlation, between cellular production and plasma levels of PTX3 in psoriasis was found as a sign of cellular activation by monocytes/macrophages that first infiltrate the psoriatic lesion. In severe psoriasis, a significant correlation between psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score and TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in both supernatant of monocytes and plasma was found. In contrast, no correlation was found for IL-1beta. By immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, a strong PTX3 staining in fibroblasts, endothelial cells and monocytes/macrophages in severe psoriatic lesional skin was detected. Finally, a positive correlation between PTX3 and disease activity of psoriasis was observed as PASI score was elevated. These findings suggest that PTX3 could be used as a further marker of disease activity of psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Dermathology Unit, AORNAS, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bevelacqua
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libra
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mazzarino
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicotra
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curatolo
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Massimino
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plumari
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merito
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stivala
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Greca
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malaponte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012107:Research Design; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000032:analysis*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005340:Fibrinogen; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099153:Pentraxins