Increased expression of Th17 cytokines in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is thought to be mediated by a new distinct type of T helper cell, called Th17 cells that play an essential pathogenic role in psoriasis. In this study, we measured serum levels of IL-17A and IL-23P19 in 43 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy control using nested real time polymerase reaction chain (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, correlating their levels to disease severity, which was calculated by psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score. Serum levels of the studied cytokines were significantly elevated in comparison with normal control serum levels according to determination. Also, serum levels of both IL-17A and IL23P19 were significantly correlated with PASI score. Our result indicates that Th17 cells might play a key role in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis and as markers of disease activity.