Psoriasis vulgaris and digestive system disorders: is there a linkage?

Psoriasis is well-known immune-mediated skin disease often associated with co-morbidities, including dyslipidaemia and obesity. Few reports imply that the disease might be also related to pathology of mucosal surfaces, especially that of the digestive system. The authors present a case of psoriasis and concurrent digestive system abnormalities, and review the literature regarding the topic. A 40-year-old man suffered from an exacerbation of exudative psoriasis for about 6 months. Topical antipsoriatics proved ineffective and the disease gradually progressed to a severe disseminated form. Subsequent detailed examinations revealed persistent gastroduodenitis due to H. pylori infection, pancreatic dysfunction and fatty change of the liver, although the patient denied any gastrointestinal symptoms. As a result appropriate treatment of the diagnosed digestive system disorders was added to topical antipsoriatic therapy. Within 2 weeks of treatment clinical symptoms and laboratory signs showed a marked trend to normalisation. The presented medical history seems to suggest that there may be some kind of interplay between psoriasis and digestive system disorders

The effect of Propionibacterium acnes on maturation of dendritic cells derived from acne patients' peripherial blood mononuclear cells.

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris which is the most common cutaneous disorder. It has a proinflammatory activity and takes part in immune reactions modulating the Th1/Th2 cellular response. The exposure of dendritic cells (DCs) to whole bacteria, their components, cytokines or other inflammatory stimuli and infectious agents induces differentiation from immature DCs into antigen-presenting mature DCs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the capability of P. acnes to induce the maturation of DCs. We stimulated monocyte derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs) from acne patients with various concetrations of heat-killed P. acnes (10(6)-10(8) bacteria/ml) cultured from acne lesions. The results showed an increase in CD80+/CD86+/DR+ and CD83+/CD1a+/DR+ cells percentage depending on the concetration of P. acnes. The expression of CD83 and CD80 (shown as the mean fluorescence intensity - MFI) increased with higher concetrations of P. acnes. There were also significant correlations between MFI of CD83, CD80, CD86 and concetration of P. acnes. The study showed that P. acnes in the concetration of 10(8) bacteria/ml is most effective in the induction of Mo-DCs maturation. Futher studies concerning the influence on the function of T cells are needed

The Assessment of Selected Bone and Cartilage Biomarkers in Psoriatic Patients from Poland

Background. Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease in which joints involvement may be insidious and difficult to detect. Bone and cartilage biomarkers may be helpful in screening patients with psoriasis for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Objectives. To assess bone and cartilage serum biomarkers in psoriasis. Methods. The study was conducted in 2014 and included 61 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy individuals. In both groups, the serum concentrations of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (sRANKL), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and interleukin-20 (IL-20) were examined. Severity of skin lesions was assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body surface area (BSA), and Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scores. Results. The duration of psoriasis was from 1 year to 45 years. 22 patients suffered from concomitant PsA. The mean value of PASI was 23.1 ± 12.0 and BSA was 27.6 ± 20.6%. COMP, OPG, and IL-20 concentrations in psoriatic patients were significantly higher than in the control group. OPG/sRANKL ratio was significantly lower in PsA patients than in psoriatic patients without arthritis. Conclusions. Results of the conducted study suggest that COMP, OPG, IL-20, and OPG/sRANKL ratio may appear useful biomarkers of bone and cartilage involvement in psoriasis

Serum Levels of Selected Th17 and Th22 Cytokines in Psoriatic Patients

Introduction. Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated inflammatory disease in which pathogenesis T helper (Th) lymphocytes (Th1, Th17, and Th22) play an important role. The aim of the study was to assess the serum levels of some cytokines involved in the Th17 and Th22 responses in psoriatic patients. Material and Methods. The study comprised 60 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy controls. In the serum collected from psoriatic patients and healthy controls, the concentrations of IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IL-20, IL-22, and IL-23 were examined with ELISA kits. Severity of psoriatic skin lesions was assessed by means of PASI, BSA, and PGA scores. Results. IL-6, IL-20, and IL-22 concentrations were significantly higher in psoriatic patients in comparison with the control group. The positive correlations between the concentrations of IL-22 and IL-20 and severity of psoriasis assessed with PASI and BSA scores as well as IL-17 and PASI score were found. There was also a positive correlation between IL-23 and IL-17 concentrations. Conclusions. Results of the conducted studies suggest that Th22 response may contribute to the skin and systemic inflammatory disease in psoriasis. It seems that early identification of soluble biomarkers and initiation of well-matched treatment may prevent exacerbation and progression of psoriasis

Serum Levels of Selected Th17 and Th22 Cytokines in Psoriatic Patients

Introduction. Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated inflammatory disease in which pathogenesis T helper (Th) lymphocytes (Th1, Th17, and Th22) play an important role. The aim of the study was to assess the serum levels of some cytokines involved in the Th17 and Th22 responses in psoriatic patients. Material and Methods. The study comprised 60 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy controls. In the serum collected from psoriatic patients and healthy controls, the concentrations of IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IL-20, IL-22, and IL-23 were examined with ELISA kits. Severity of psoriatic skin lesions was assessed by means of PASI, BSA, and PGA scores. Results. IL-6, IL-20, and IL-22 concentrations were significantly higher in psoriatic patients in comparison with the control group. The positive correlations between the concentrations of IL-22 and IL-20 and severity of psoriasis assessed with PASI and BSA scores as well as IL-17 and PASI score were found. There was also a positive correlation between IL-23 and IL-17 concentrations. Conclusions. Results of the conducted studies suggest that Th22 response may contribute to the skin and systemic inflammatory disease in psoriasis. It seems that early identification of soluble biomarkers and initiation of well-matched treatment may prevent exacerbation and progression of psoriasis

Psoriasis vulgaris and digestive system disorders: is there a linkage?

Psoriasis is well-known immune-mediated skin disease often associated with co-morbidities, including dyslipidaemia and obesity. Few reports imply that the disease might be also related to pathology of mucosal surfaces, especially that of the digestive system. The authors present a case of psoriasis and concurrent digestive system abnormalities, and review the literature regarding the topic. A 40-year-old man suffered from an exacerbation of exudative psoriasis for about 6 months. Topical antipsoriatics proved ineffective and the disease gradually progressed to a severe disseminated form. Subsequent detailed examinations revealed persistent gastroduodenitis due to H. pylori infection, pancreatic dysfunction and fatty change of the liver, although the patient denied any gastrointestinal symptoms. As a result appropriate treatment of the diagnosed digestive system disorders was added to topical antipsoriatic therapy. Within 2 weeks of treatment clinical symptoms and laboratory signs showed a marked trend to normalisation. The presented medical history seems to suggest that there may be some kind of interplay between psoriasis and digestive system disorders

The effect of Propionibacterium acnes on maturation of dendritic cells derived from acne patients' peripherial blood mononuclear cells.

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris which is the most common cutaneous disorder. It has a proinflammatory activity and takes part in immune reactions modulating the Th1/Th2 cellular response. The exposure of dendritic cells (DCs) to whole bacteria, their components, cytokines or other inflammatory stimuli and infectious agents induces differentiation from immature DCs into antigen-presenting mature DCs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the capability of P. acnes to induce the maturation of DCs. We stimulated monocyte derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs) from acne patients with various concetrations of heat-killed P. acnes (10(6)-10(8) bacteria/ml) cultured from acne lesions. The results showed an increase in CD80+/CD86+/DR+ and CD83+/CD1a+/DR+ cells percentage depending on the concetration of P. acnes. The expression of CD83 and CD80 (shown as the mean fluorescence intensity - MFI) increased with higher concetrations of P. acnes. There were also significant correlations between MFI of CD83, CD80, CD86 and concetration of P. acnes. The study showed that P. acnes in the concetration of 10(8) bacteria/ml is most effective in the induction of Mo-DCs maturation. Futher studies concerning the influence on the function of T cells are needed