TARGETING IL-23: INSIGHTS INTO THE PATHOGENESIS AND THE TREATMENT OF PSORIASIS

Therapeutic experience strongly supports the use of TNF antagonists as important modalities in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis. Studies with anti-IL-12/23 therapeutic agents, which act in different steps of the psoriatic inflammatory cascade, have also shown demonstrable efficacy. Here, we discuss this approach and its potential within the armamentarium for the treatment of psoriasis. Evidences that the selective blocking of IL-23 may be effective and safe therapy are also addressed

Allergy to hematophagous arthropods bites

Allergies to hematophagous arthropod bites are inflammatory reactivity to arthropods salivary components. They vary in intensity and quality dependent upon the arthropod species and the individual immune response to specific proteins of the insect s saliva. Individuals who were not previously exposed show mild localized reactions not beyond those expected by pharmacological substances present in arthropods saliva. Allergic reactions are immunological in their nature and the diversity derived from hypersensitivity reactions with different levels of participation of the immune system components. Some are mainly derived from a humoral immune response, and others are based predominantly on T-lymphocyte-mediated. The majority of these undesired biological answers are self-limited, and few may cause a systemic reaction. This article intends to discuss the immunological ingredients of this evolutionary interaction.Allergies to hematophagous arthropod bites are inflammatory reactivity to arthropods salivary components. They vary in intensity and quality dependent upon the arthropod species and the individual immune response to specific proteins of the insect s saliva. Individuals who were not previously exposed show mild localized reactions not beyond those expected by pharmacological substances present in arthropods saliva. Allergic reactions are immunological in their nature and the diversity derived from hypersensitivity reactions with different levels of participation of the immune system components. Some are mainly derived from a humoral immune response, and others are based predominantly on T-lymphocyte-mediated. The majority of these undesired biological answers are self-limited, and few may cause a systemic reaction. This article intends to discuss the immunological ingredients of this evolutionary interaction

Resolution of an infection with Leishmania braziliensis confers complete protection to a subsequent challenge with Leishmania major in BALB/c mice

Both Leishmania major and L. braziliensis induce cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice. Whereas BALB/c mice die of infection with L. major, they cure an infection with L. braziliensis. We report here that after curing an infection with L. braziliensis, BALB/c mice are resistant to challenge with L. major. When challenged with L. major, L. braziliensis pre-treated BALB/c mice mounted a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to L. major and produced high amounts of interferon -γ (IFN-γ) but low amounts of interleukin-4. The IFN-γ produced by the L. braziliensis pre-infected mice was involved in the protection seen against L. major challenge since treating the mice with a neutralizing anti-IFN-γ abrogated the protection. This suggests that cross-reactive antigen epitopes exist between L. braziliensis and L. major and that pre-infection with L. braziliensis primes BALB/c mice to epitopes on L. major that can elicit a protective Th1 response to the parasite

How to measure disease activity, impact, and control in patients with recurrent wheals, angioedema, or both

Chronic spontaneous urticaria and chronic inducible urticaria are characterized by wheals, angioedema, or both, whereas other conditions such as hereditary angioedema present only with angioedema. The unpredictability of outbreaks, disfigurement, pruritus, and associated sleep and work disturbance can cause a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). Significant breakthroughs in the understanding of these conditions in recent years have led to the development of novel therapies. Assessment of patients with these conditions not only focuses on the clinical activity of the condition, but also on the impact on QoL and disease control with treatment. Patient-reported outcome measures, especially if sufficiently validated, give due prominence to the patient's perspective regarding disease impact and treatment outcomes. This article will review the tools readily available to assess activity, impact, and control in patients with recurrent wheals, angioedema, or both