Association of Disease Severity with IL‐1 levels in Methotrexate‐treated Psoriasis Patients

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of immunology 2013-12, Vol.78 (6), p.545-553
• Main Authors: Tamilselvi, E., Haripriya, D., Hemamalini, M., Pushpa, G., Swapna, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Female; Humans; Interleukin-1alpha - blood; Interleukin-1alpha - metabolism; Interleukin-1beta - blood; Interleukin-1beta - metabolism; Male; Methotrexate - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Psoriasis - blood; Psoriasis - drug therapy; Skin - immunology; Skin - metabolism; Th17 Cells - immunology; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0300-9475; 1365-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/sji.12117

Interleukin‐1 plays a key role in inflammation and keratinocyte activation. It is an important mediator in the initiation and maintenance of psoriatic plaques and may represent an attractive therapeutic target. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Methotrexate (MTX) on IL‐1 α and IL‐1 β levels in both plasma and skin biopsy of patients with psoriasis and to investigate their association with clinical disease activity. Forty‐five control subjects and 58 patients with psoriasis were recruited for this study. The patients were treated with 7.5 mg of MTX per week for 12 weeks. Folic acid was given at 5 mg once daily except on the day of MTX for 12 weeks. Blood samples and lesional skin biopsy were taken. Disease severity was assessed by Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. IL‐1 levels in plasma and skin biopsy were analysed using ELISA. PASI score declined significantly (P