Elevation of serum epidermal growth factor and interleukin  1 receptor antagonist in active psoriasis vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
Psoriatic plaques present a complex expression profile, including high levels of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Circulating cytokines have been suggested to reflect the activation status of the inflammatory process.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse 20 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in 14 patients with psoriasis vulgaris at the start and during the course of ultraviolet B treatment.


METHODS
A multiplex cytokine assay was used.


RESULTS
We identified increased serum levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) (mean 323 vs. 36·6 pg mL⁻¹, P = 0·0001), interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (mean 39·1 vs. 14·6 pg mL⁻¹, P = 0·02) and tumour necrosis factor-α (mean 7·5 vs. 4·5 pg mL⁻¹, P = 0·04) at baseline in patients with psoriasis compared with matched controls. None of these cytokines was correlated to the severity of the disease (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) or decreased with phototherapy, suggesting that sources other than lesional skin contribute to the production of these cytokines. Using cluster analysis, we observed coordinate upregulation of EGF, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß and vascular endothelial growth factor.


CONCLUSIONS
The sustained high expression of inflammatory circulating cytokines is a potential mechanism linking psoriasis with its extracutaneous comorbidities.
Anderson
K S
KS
Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Petersson
S
S
Wong
J
J
Shubbar
E
E
Lokko
N N
NN
Carlström
M
M
Enerbäck
C
C
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor