Serum Levels Of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 In Patients With Mild Psoriasis Vulgaris And Effect Of Treatment With Biological Drugs

Background. Psoriasis is an immune cell-mediated disease in which cytokines play an important role. Studies have been performed to explore the relationship between the disease and cytokine blood levels with a view to finding a biomarker for monitoring disease severity/activity and treatment efficacy.Aim. To investigate the levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in patients with mild psoriasis vulgaris (PV) and the possible use of this cytokine in monitoring treatment with biological drugs.Methods. Serum levels of TGF-beta 1 were estimated in 33 untreated patients (PI group), in 7 of these patients (PII group) before and after 3 months of treatment with one of two biological drugs (etanercept and efalizumab) and in 19 healthy volunteers (control group).Results. Significantly (P < 0.0001) higher serum levels of TGF-beta 1 were found in the PI group [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 9-10] compared with the 19 healthy volunteers. In the PII group, after the administration of one of the biological drugs, a 50% reduction in PASI and a significant (P = 0.032) decrease in TGF-beta 1 was noted.Conclusions. Raised TGF-beta 1 levels in patients with mild PV decreased in tandem with a decrease in PASI after biological drug treatment. Hence, TGF-beta 1 levels seem to be sensitive to changes in disease severity.