title: Serum level of a soluble form of endoglin (CD105) is decreased after Goeckerman's therapy of psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Goeckerman's therapy (GT) of psoriasis is based on daily application of pharmacy grade coal tar on affected skin with subsequent exposure to UV light. Disturbances in angiogenic activity are characteristic for the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. The aim of study was to evaluate the influence of GT of psoriasis on proinflammatory and angiogenic activities expressed as changes in levels of endoglin (CD105).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of a soluble form of endoglin were measured in peripheral blood samples of 38 patients with psoriasis before and after therapy. Sixty three otherwise healthy blood donors serve as a control group. The efficacy of GT was expressed as changes in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PASI score was significantly diminished by GT (p < 0.001). Serum levels of soluble CD105 were significantly diminished after GT. The serum level of soluble CD105 dropped from 7.85 +/- 2.26 ng/ml before therapy to 7.01 +/- 1.71 ng/ml after therapy (p = 0.0002). Compared to serum levels of soluble CD105 in healthy blood donors, serum levels of soluble CD105 in patients before GT were significantly higher (p < 0.001) and remained elevated after therapy (p < 0.001). Angiogenic activity expressed as serum endoglin is diminished in patients with psoriasis treated by GT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Ctirad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrýs
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borská
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fiala
authors.forename: Kveta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamaková
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ettler
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krejsek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D003033:Coal Tar