Interleukin 22 and 6 serum concentrations decrease under long-term biologic therapy in psoriasis.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Psoriasis affects 2% of the global population, characterized by chronic inflammation and cytokine overexpression.
• Existing data on antipsoriatic therapy's impact on cytokine levels are inconsistent and short-term.
• Understanding long-term cytokine changes is crucial for effective psoriasis management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term effects of biologic therapies on IL-6 and IL-22 serum concentrations in psoriasis patients.
• To evaluate the influence of TNF-α blockers (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab) and an IL-12/23 inhibitor (ustekinumab).

Main Methods:

• Serum IL-6 and IL-22 levels were measured in 42 psoriasis patients over 36 months of biologic therapy.
• Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index (PASI) was assessed concurrently.
• A control group of 30 healthy volunteers was included for comparison.

Main Results:

• Mean PASI scores significantly decreased throughout the observation period.
• Serum IL-6 concentrations showed a significant reduction across all treatment groups (p < 0.05).
• IL-22 levels significantly decreased with adalimumab and infliximab, but not etanercept or ustekinumab.

Conclusions:

• Serum IL-6 and IL-22 may serve as accurate biomarkers for response to antipsoriatic biologic therapy.
• Biologic therapy offers sustained clinical improvement in psoriasis, marked by reduced skin lesions and lower pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.
• While not directly correlated with PASI, cytokine levels reflect therapeutic efficacy.