Psoriasis is one of the most frequent inflammatory skin diseases in which abnormal individual immune reactivity plays an important role. The aim of the present study was to describe selected immunological changes, concerning pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-8) and adhesion molecules (sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sICAM-1), in 56 patients cured by Goeckerman's therapy (GT). GT includes dermal application of crude coal tar (containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and exposure to UV radiation. When compared with the control group (healthy blood donors), the patients before GT had significantly increased serum levels of sE-selectin (p<0.001), sP-selectin (p<0.001), sICAM-1 (p<0.001) and IL-8 (p<0.001). Significantly decreased serum levels of sE-selectin (p<0.05) and significantly increased serum levels of IL-8 (p<0.05) were found after GT therapy. Serum levels of sICAM significantly correlated with the disease activity and with serum levels of sE-selectin. The level of PASI score (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) significantly decreased after GT (p<0.001) and confirms the high efficiency GT. These findings confirmed that pro-inflammatory chemokine (IL-8) and adhesion molecules (sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sICAM-1) play an important role in the development and regulation of inflammation in psoriasis. Determination of sE-selectin and sICAM seems to be a promising marker of psoriasis's activity. Chemokine pathway (IL-8) and TNF-alpha activity seem to be modulated by Goeckerman's therapy (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).

Institute of Pathological Physiology Charles University Prague Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralové Hradec Králové Czech Republic

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