@article{3051206,
    title = "Effects of cyclosporin A on immune activation markers in patients with
active psoriasis",
    author = "Economidou, J and Barkis, J and Demetriou, Z and Avgerinou, G and and Psarra, K and Degiannis, D and Vareltzidis, A and Katsambas, A",
    journal = "Dermatology World",
    year = "1999",
    volume = "199",
    number = "2",
    pages = "144-148",
    publisher = "Karger",
    doi = "10.1159/000018222",
    keywords = "psoriasis; cyclosporin A; lymphocyte subsets; cytokines",
    abstract = "Background: Psoriasis is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disease. The
objective of this work was to investigate the presence of cellular and
soluble activation molecules in the blood of patients with psoriasis,
not responding to local treatment and to study the effect of cyclosporin
A (CsA) on these markets. Methods: Twenty-seven patients and 30 healthy
controls were included in the study. The results were evaluated at
baseline and at 15 days, 3, 6 and 12 months following initiation of
treatment. Results: We found increased baseline values of lymphocytes
and cells expressing the marker CD3+CD25+, CD54+ (ICAM-1) and CD58+
(LFA-3). Following CsA treatment, a significant decrease in the
percentage of activated T cells expressing CD3+CD25+ and CD3+HLA-DR+ was
noted at 6 and 12 months. Among the soluble factors studied, increased
baseline serum levels of sIL-2R, sCD23 and neopterin were observed. CsA
significantly reduced the levels of sIL-2R and IL-12. Conclusion:
Although there is evidence for systemic immune activation in psoriasis,
sIL-2R is the most consistently increased activation marker, related to
the Th1 immune response, that may be used as a marker for monitoring
disease activity and response to treatment with CsA in psoriatic
patients."
}