Evaluation of levels of IL-2 and TNF- α in the serum of psoriasis patients and their role in inflammatory activity

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated skin disorder, which is characterized by hyperplasia of keratinocytes and long-term cellular immunity. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), are the basis of the pathogenesis and progression of the disease.Aim: The study was intended to determine the serum levels of IL-2 and TNF-α in psoriasis patients and to determine the correlation of these variables with clinical severity and other variables of clinical concern.Materials and Methods: Fifty clinically diagnosed patients with psoriasis and fifty age- and sex-matched controls (apparently healthy subjects) were involved in the study. The serum levels of IL-2 and TNF-α were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to determine the severity of the disease. Result: The serum levels of IL-2 and TNF-α in patients with psoriasis were significantly greater than those of the controls (P < 0.01). It was found that the two cytokines were significantly elevated with increasing PASI score (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between cytokine levels and disease duration. There was a significant increase in the level of TNF-α in the group of smokers compared with non-smokers, with no significant increase in the level of IL-2. There was no significant sex-related difference. Conclusion: The serum IL-2 and TNF-α levels were identified to be elevated relative to the severity and duration of psoriasis and, therefore, have been established as effective inflammatory mediators in disease activity. The findings support the use of IL-2 and TNF-α as immunological biomarkers to track disease progression.