Changes of Serum CCL20 and Its Receptor CCR6 Levels in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris and Interventional Effect of Acitretin

Objective To observe the changes of serum chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 levels in patients with psoriasis vulgaris,and explore the effect of acitretin intervention on their serum levels. Methods Sera of 30 healthy people (normal control group) and 80 patients with psoriasis vulgaris before as well as 4 weeks and 8 weeks after acitretin treatment (treated group) were isolated and collected. Treated group included 48 cases with aggressive phase and 32 cases with stationary phase. Serum concentrations of CCL20 and CCR6 were detected by ELISA. PASI scores were calculated before and 8 weeks after acitretin treatment in treated group. Correlation of CCL20 and CCR6 with PASI scores were analyzed before acitretin treatment in treated group. Results Serum CCL20 and CCR6 concentrations before treatment in treated group were significantly higher than those in normal control group (P 0. 01) . Serum CCL20 and CCR6 concentrations in patients of aggressive-phase psoriasis vulgaris were elevated compared with stationary-phase patients and normal control group (P 0. 01) . Those were also increased in stationary-phase psoriasis vulgaris as compared with normal control group (P 0. 05) . Serum CCL20 and CCR6 concentrations showed positive correlation with PASI scores before treatment in treated group (P 0. 05) . The effective rate of acitretin treat-ment was 78. 75% . Serum CCL20 and CCR6 concentrations were significantly lower 4 and 8 weeks post treatment as compared to pre-treatment within treated group (P 0. 05 or 0. 01) . Those of 8 weeks were de-creased compared with 4 weeks after treatment in treated group (P 0. 05) . Conclusion Serum CCL20 and CCR6 concentrations are elevated in patients with psoriasis vulgaris,which may be a mechanism partici-pating in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris. Acitretin is effective in treating psoriasis vulgaris possibly through decreasing CCL20 and CCR6 levels.