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Serum levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 in patients with mild psoriasis vulgaris and effect of treatment with biological drugs
Author(s) -
Kallimanis P. G.,
Xenos K.,
Markantonis S. L.,
Stavropoulos P.,
Margaroni G.,
Katsambas A.,
Avgerinou G.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.03026.x
Subject(s) - biopharmaceutics , pharmacy , medicine , family medicine , library science , dermatology , pharmacognosy , biology , biochemistry , computer science , biological activity , in vitro
Summary Background. Psoriasis is an immune cell‐mediated disease in which cytokines play an important role. Studies have been performed to explore the relationship between the disease and cytokine blood levels with a view to finding a biomarker for monitoring disease severity/activity and treatment efficacy. Aim. To investigate the levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) in patients with mild psoriasis vulgaris (PV) and the possible use of this cytokine in monitoring treatment with biological drugs. Methods. Serum levels of TGF‐β1 were estimated in 33 untreated patients (PI group), in 7 of these patients (PII group) before and after 3 months of treatment with one of two biological drugs (etanercept and efalizumab) and in 19 healthy volunteers (control group). Results. Significantly ( P < 0.0001) higher serum levels of TGF‐β1 were found in the PI group [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 9–10] compared with the 19 healthy volunteers. In the PII group, after the administration of one of the biological drugs, a 50% reduction in PASI and a significant ( P = 0.032) decrease in TGF‐β1 was noted. Conclusions. Raised TGF‐β1 levels in patients with mild PV decreased in tandem with a decrease in PASI after biological drug treatment. Hence, TGF‐β1 levels seem to be sensitive to changes in disease severity.