title: CD4+ CD25+ T-regulatory cells in psoriasis. Correlation between their numbers and biologics-induced clinical improvement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regulatory T-cells (T-reg) play a central role in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. T-reg cells are both functionally and numerically impaired in psoriasis and they are up-regulated by drug therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the circulating CD4+CD25 bright FOXP3+ subset in 14 patients with vulgaris/arthropathic psoriasis treated with biological drugs and to investigate their relationship with the clinical response.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CD4+ CD25 bright FOXP3+ expression was determined in peripheral blood by flow cytometry at baseline and during treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response was obtained in 10/14 patients with increased CD4+ CD25 bright FOXP3+ (T-reg) in peripheral blood after the first month and then 4 months after therapy with biological drugs. This increase is associated with the achievement of a clinical response and with a reduction in the Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index (PASI) score. 2/14 patients showed a decrease in T-reg after drug therapy and this decrease correlated with a worsening of the clinical skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biological drugs induce circulating T-reg up-regulation in psoriatic patients; such an increase is an early predictive marker of clinical response.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00133 Rome, Italy. antoniorichetta@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Antonio Giovanni
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Richetta
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattozzi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giancristoforo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'epiro
authors.forename: Bernardina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milana
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zampetti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvieri
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morrone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit