title: Effects of TNF-alpha inhibitors on the number of epidermal Langerhans cells in uninvolved skin of psoriatic patients: a pilot study.
abstract: Only limited data are available on the effects of TNF-alpha inhibitors on dendritic cells. However, TNF-alpha plays a central role in the biology of dendritic cells, both with regard to their maturity process and mobilization to secondary lymphoid organs. In particular, the effects of TNF-alpha inhibitors on Langerhans cells in healthy skin have never been investigated. In this pilot study, we aimed to assess the change of the density of Langerhans cells within the normal, not photo-exposed, skin of 17 psoriatic patients, before and after 16 weeks of treatment with TNF-alpha inhibitors. Most of the patients (88%) showed an increase or a similar density of Langerhans cells after 16 weeks of therapy with TNF-alpha inhibitors compared with baseline values. Only 2 patients (12%) showed a reduction of these cells following therapy with TNF-alpha inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Via Battisti 206, 35121 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piaserico
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zattra
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michelotto
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alaibac
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002452:Cell Count; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept
keywords: Langerhans cells; Psoriasis; TNF-alpha inhibitors