Ann Dermatol.  2017 Aug;29(4):422-426. 10.5021/ad.2017.29.4.422.

Gene Expression Analysis of Inflammatory Cytokines in Korean Psoriatic Patients

• Chun JH
• Yoon YH
• Choe YB
• Kang LH
• Paik SY
• Park CJ

• KMID: 2388939
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2017.29.4.422

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Although phenotypic heterogeneity of psoriasis is suggested by the alternate activation of either T-helper (Th)1-related or Th17-related cytokines, little is known about the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether there is differential expression of Th1-related and Th17-related inflammatory cytokine genes 1) between psoriatic patients and healthy controls, and 2) between patients with different psoriasis phenotypes.
METHODS
Twenty-five patients with psoriasis (10 with guttate psoriasis and 15 with plaque psoriasis) and 5 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The mRNA levels of circulating cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2, IL-12p40, interferon-γ, IL-17A, IL-22, and IL-23R) were measured by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
The comparison between psoriatic and healthy control samples revealed that IL-12p40, IL-17A, and IL-22 mRNA levels were significantly higher (approximately 4∼6 folds) in the patients with psoriasis. The mRNA levels of these six cytokines in the blood did not differ between the guttate and plaque psoriasis groups.
CONCLUSION
We found that the mRNA levels of blood inflammatory cytokines (IL-12p40, IL-17A, and IL-22) were significantly elevated in patients with psoriasis compared to the levels in healthy controls, but they did not significantly differ between patients with guttate and plaque type psoriasis.

Keyword

Cytokines; Gene expression; Psoriasis

MeSH Terms

Cytokines*
Gene Expression*
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Interleukin-12 Subunit p40
Interleukin-17
Phenotype
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Population Characteristics
Psoriasis
Reverse Transcription
RNA, Messenger
Cytokines
Interleukin-12 Subunit p40
Interleukin-17
RNA, Messenger

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction data on six inflammatory cytokine: The mRNA expression ratios (2−△△CT) in patients with psoriasis compared to those in healthy controls were all significant (*p<0.05). The levels of interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL-17, and IL-22 were elevated in patients with psoriasis compared to those in healthy controls; however, the levels of IL-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-23R were lower in the psoriasis group.

• 

  Fig. 2 Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction data on six inflammatory cytokine: The difference in the relative ratios of mRNA expression in patients with guttate and plaque psoriasis was not significant (p>0.05). IL: interleukin, IFN: interferon.

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