Bevelacqua Valentina, Libra Massimo, Mazzarino Maria C, Gangemi Pietro, Nicotra Giuseppina, Curatolo Salvatore, Massimino Daniela, Plumari Antonio, Merito Paola, Valente Guido, Stivala Franca, La Greca Stefano, Malaponte Grazia
Dermathology Unit, AORNAS, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy.
Int J Mol Med. 2006 Sep;18(3):415-23.
Psoriasis is a common cutaneous disorder characterized by abnormal epidermal differentiation, proliferation and inflammation mediated by dermal infiltrates, such as T cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells and macrophages. There are renewed interest in the role of components of the innate immune system. Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-6, and -1beta involved in pathogenic phenomena in psoriasis are known as inducers of the acute phase response. Among the large group of acute phase reactants, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen are of special interest in psoriasis. The PTX-3, a long pentraxin sharing similarities with the classical short proteins. Thus, considering the numerous biological roles of inflammatory cytokines and their relationship with inflammatory markers, such as CRP and fibrinogen we have investigated the role of PTX3 in psoriasis. To this aim PTX3, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-1beta in plasma and in monocytic cultures by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 44 patients including severe and mild psoriasis were measured. An increased production of PTX3, both in supernatant of purified monocytes and in plasma from patients with severe psoriasis, was found. The significant correlation, between cellular production and plasma levels of PTX3 in psoriasis was found as a sign of cellular activation by monocytes/macrophages that first infiltrate the psoriatic lesion. In severe psoriasis, a significant correlation between psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score and TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in both supernatant of monocytes and plasma was found. In contrast, no correlation was found for IL-1beta. By immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, a strong PTX3 staining in fibroblasts, endothelial cells and monocytes/macrophages in severe psoriatic lesional skin was detected. Finally, a positive correlation between PTX3 and disease activity of psoriasis was observed as PASI score was elevated. These findings suggest that PTX3 could be used as a further marker of disease activity of psoriasis.
银屑病是一种常见的皮肤疾病，其特征为表皮分化、增殖异常以及由真皮浸润（如T细胞、中性粒细胞、树突状细胞和巨噬细胞）介导的炎症。人们对先天性免疫系统成分的作用重新产生了兴趣。诸如肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素（IL）-6和-1β等细胞因子参与银屑病的致病现象，被称为急性期反应的诱导剂。在一大类急性期反应物中，C反应蛋白（CRP）和纤维蛋白原在银屑病中备受关注。PTX-3是一种长链五聚体蛋白，与经典的短链蛋白有相似之处。因此，考虑到炎性细胞因子的众多生物学作用及其与CRP和纤维蛋白原等炎症标志物的关系，我们研究了PTX3在银屑病中的作用。为此，通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）测量了44例包括重度和轻度银屑病患者血浆及单核细胞培养物中的PTX3、TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β。结果发现，重度银屑病患者纯化单核细胞的上清液和血浆中PTX3的产生均增加。银屑病中细胞产生的PTX3与血浆水平之间存在显著相关性，这表明首先浸润银屑病皮损的单核细胞/巨噬细胞激活了细胞。在重度银屑病中，单核细胞上清液和血浆中银屑病面积和严重程度指数（PASI）评分与TNF-α和IL-6水平之间存在显著相关性。相比之下，未发现IL-1β有相关性。通过免疫组织化学和免疫荧光检测发现，重度银屑病皮损皮肤中的成纤维细胞、内皮细胞和单核细胞/巨噬细胞中有强烈的PTX3染色。最后，随着PASI评分升高，观察到PTX3与银屑病疾病活动之间呈正相关。这些发现表明，PTX3可作为银屑病疾病活动的进一步标志物。
