Tag Archives: psoriasis

Plasma gelsolin and matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels as diagnostic markers for psoriatic arthritis

Y. A. Zamzam1*, T. F. Mansour2, R. M. Salem3,
H. A. A. Hanout3, R. A. Mostafa1

1Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt;
2Department of Internal Medicine (Rheumatology Unit), Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt;
3Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of medicine, Tanta University, Egypt;
*e-mail: yosrazamzam@yahoo.com

Received: 18 June 2024; Revised: 10 August 2024;
Accepted: 21 November 2024; Available on-line: 17 December 2024

Recent studies have revealed a high prevalence of undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis. Diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis has proven challenging because the symptoms of the disease are nonspecific, rheumatoid factor is not detectable, and acute phase reactant levels may be normal. Therefore, identifying soluble biomarkers for diagnosing PsA in psoriasis patients may help in early diagnosis and proper management. The aim of the work was to evaluate plasma gelsolin and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) levels as potential markers for PsA. This case-control study included 25 healthy controls and 50 psoriasis patients, who were divided into 25 patients with psoriasis only and 25 patients with psoriatic arthritis. Plasma levels of gelsolin and MMP-3 were measured using ELISA. It was shown that patients with PsA had significantly lower gelsolin and significantly higher MMP-3 plasma levels compared to patients with psoriasis only. For detecting PsA, gelsolin and MMP-3 had sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 92 and 80% for each, respectively. Gelsolin level negatively while MMP-3 level positively correlated with such parameters­ as disease activity for psoriatic arthritis, composite psoriatic disease activity index, and inflammatory markers­ including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It was concluded that plasma gelsolin and MMP-3 levels could serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosing PsA and monitoring the disease progression in PsA patients.

Serum visfatin, resistin levels and inflammation markers in psoriasis patients

A. Majid*, M. Fouad

Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Thi-Qar, Thi-Qar, 64001, Iraq;
*e-mail: aliaa.s_mschem@sci.utq.edu.iq

Received: 08 October 2022; Revised: 02 December 2022;
Accepted: 17 February 2023; Available on-line: 27 February 2023

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that varies in severity. Psoriasis is associated with complex disorders, which incorporate metabolic syndrome, obesity and impaired glucose tolerance. Adipose tissue secretes several hormones and cytokines, in particular visfatin and resistin that could be involved in the development of psoriasis by acting as pro-inflammatory or immunoregulatory factors. The aim of this work was to evaluate the serum level of visfatin and resistin as well as of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in psoriatic patients. The study included 43 healthy individuals and 45 patients divided into three groups with mild, moderate and severe clinical degrees of disease assessed by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). The results showed a significant increase in the concentration of serum visfatin, resistin, ESR and hs-CRP in patient groups in comparison with a control group. The highest increase in indicators was observed in the group of patients with severe disease compared with the mild and moderate patients groups. The significance of studied indicators as biomarkers of psoriasis disease severity is analyzed.

Methotrexate effect on biochemical indices of psoriasis patients depends on MTHFR gene polymorphism

O. M. Fedota1, L. V. Roschenyuk2,3, T. V. Tyzhnenko1,
N. G. Puzik1,3, V. M. Vorontsov1, P. P. Ryzhko1

1V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine;
2Kharkiv Regional Clinical Skin and Venereal Diseases Dispensary №1, Ukraine;
3Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine;
e-mail: tyzhnenko@ukr.net

Received: 13 June 2019; Accepted: 29 November 2019

Methotrexate (MTX) is the immunosuppressive anti-inflammatory drug and the antagonist of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase. Pharmacogenomic studies and clinical evidences suggest that altered response to MTX  in patients with different diseases is associated with polymorphisms of genes that regulate folate metabolism. The purpose of the article was to analyze the methotrexate effect on the biochemical indices of psoriasis patients depending on methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) polymorphisms. Effects of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, C677T and A1298C, were studied. An increase of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity above the normal level in the patients with both MTHFR gene polymorphisms after methotrexate intake was observed. In patients with CC, TT, CT genotypes for C677T polymorphism and AA genotype for A1298C polymorphism of MTHFR gene, significant differen­ces in alpha-amylase activity before and after treatment with methotrexate were detected. Analysis of the biochemical indices of  patients with arthropathic and vulgaris psoriasis showed that the positive effect of MTX treatment could be associated with wild-type alleles in both  polymorphisms of MTHFR gene, while the ineffectiveness of methotrexate was associated with the dihеterozygous genotype. The largest number of smokers was found within the CTAA genotype group (37.5%), while no smokers were observed within TTAA patients and most of CCAA patients. The data obtained testify the utility of the individual approach to the psoriasis patients therapy taking into account genetic background.