Interleukin (IL)-22, IL-17, IL-23, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor and tumour necrosis factor-α levels in patients with psoriasis before, during and after psoralen-ultraviolet A and narrowband ultraviolet B therapy.
BACKGROUND
Several cross-sectional studies have shown that different cytokines and growth factors are enhanced in psoriasis.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to understand the role/relation of interleukin (IL)-22, IL-17, IL-23, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α in psoriasis vulgaris, addressing their levels and changes before, during and after psoralen-ultraviolet A (PUVA) and narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) treatment.


METHODS
A cross-sectional and a longitudinal study (n = 34) - before (T0) and at 3 (T3), 6 (T6) and 12 (T12) weeks of NB-UVB and PUVA therapy - were performed; 17 patients started NB-UVB and 17 PUVA, and IL-22, IL-17, IL-23, IL-8, TNF-α and VEGF levels were evaluated.


RESULTS
At T0, compared with controls (n = 20), all the parameters were significantly higher in patients, except for TNF-α. Both NB-UVB and PUVA treatment gave, at T3, a significant decrease in TNF-α and IL-23; IL-22 and IL-17 decreased significantly at T6; all parameters and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index decreased significantly at T12. However, in both groups, at T12, VEGF was still significantly higher than control.


CONCLUSIONS
Psoriasis seems to be a complex disease in which the cytokine network is disturbed, namely in levels of IL-22, IL-17, IL-23, IL-8, TNF-α and VEGF. NB-UVB and PUVA follow-up studies suggested that the reduction in the IL-23/Th17 axis might be important in the pathogenic mechanisms of psoriasis. Further follow-up studies of patients with psoriasis treated with these and other therapies could be very helpful for the understanding of the disturbance in the cytokine network in psoriasis and indirectly in its pathogenesis.
Coimbra
S
S
Serviço de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal. ssn.coimbra@gmail.com
Oliveira
H
H
Reis
F
F
Belo
L
L
Rocha
S
S
Quintanilha
A
A
Figueiredo
A
A
Teixeira
F
F
Castro
E
E
Rocha-Pereira
P
P
Santos-Silva
A
A
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D000097043:Interleukin-22
D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D016209:Interleukin-8; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000097043:Interleukin-22