Pro-inflammatory versus anti-inflammatory cytokines in psoriatic patients (case-control study)

Psoriasis (PsO) is a systemic autoimmune disease. Many pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory biomarkers have been associated with the pathogenetic process of psoriasis. IL-35 act as an anti-inflammatory cytokine through downregulation of TH-17 cell development and cytokine production. So, IL-35 might be utilized as potential future therapeutic agent for psoriasis.

To investigate the association between inflammatory (IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-35, TGF-β) in psoriasis patients.

A case-control study enrolled two groups: (Group I: 40 patients with psoriasis) and (Group II: 40 healthy age and sex-matched subjects). Full history was taken from all cases along with full dermatologic examination. The assessment of psoriasis severity was conducted by using PASI score. Assessment of inflammatory (IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-35, TGF-β) was performed by using ELISA technique.

There was a statistically significant increase of mean level of TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ among psoriasis cases in comparison with controls. The mean level of TGF-β and IL-35 was statistically significantly reduced among the psoriasis cases in comparison with controls. TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ showed a significant strong positive association in between and statistically significant strong negative relationship with IL-35 and TGF-β.

IL-35 has a significant role in the pathogenetic process of PsO, and it serves as a potential future therapeutic agent for psoriasis. The current results could be used as a clue for the utilization of inflammatory (IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ) versus anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-35, TGF-β) in psoriasis patients as a diagnostic biomarker for severity of cases with psoriasis.