title: Elevation of serum epidermal growth factor and interleukin  1 receptor antagonist in active psoriasis vulgaris.
abstract: 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.
authors: Cancer Vaccine Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Anderson
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Petersson
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Wong
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Shubbar
authors: N N
authors: NN
authors: Lokko
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Carlström
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Enerbäck
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor