title: IL-6 as a druggable target in psoriasis: focus on pustular variants.
abstract: Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a cutaneous inflammatory disorder stemming from abnormal, persistent activation of the interleukin- (IL-)23/Th17 axis. Pustular psoriasis (PP) is a clinicopathological variant of psoriasis, histopathologically defined by the predominance of intraepidermal collections of neutrophils. Although PP pathogenesis is thought to largely follow that of (PV), recent evidences point to a more central role for IL-1, IL-36, and IL-6 in the development of PP. We review the role of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of PV and PP, focusing on its cross-talk with cytokines of the IL-23/Th17 axis. Clinical inhibitors of IL-6 signaling, including tocilizumab, have shown significant effectiveness in the treatment of several inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis; accordingly, anti-IL-6 agents may potentially represent future promising therapies for the treatment of PP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8814-441X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saggini
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3750-1792
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy ; Laboratory for Investigative Dermatology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6739-0387
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiricozzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors