Soluble human leukocyte antigen-G and interleukin-10 levels in plasma of psoriatic patients: preliminary study on a possible correlation between generalized immune status, treatments and disease

Arch Dermatol Res. 2008 Nov;300(10):551-9. doi: 10.1007/s00403-008-0886-6. Epub 2008 Sep 17.

Abstract

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G is a non-classical HLA class I molecule that exerts a generalized immunosuppressive action. A deficit in membrane bound and soluble HLA-G levels seems to cause a defective control on immune responses and trigger off several autoimmune diseases. As psoriasis is considered an autoimmune disease, lower levels of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) might be expected in psoriatic patients than in healthy controls. The aims of this descriptive study were: (1) to evaluate whether sHLA-G levels are different in psoriatic patients compared to controls; (2) to compare sHLA-G levels between groups of patients treated with different therapies; (3) to evaluate whether any differences found in HLA-G expression could be related to a genetic control. Peripheral blood samples were investigated for sHLA-G and IL-10 levels and for HLA-G 14 bp polymorphism in 65 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with systemic drugs or with topical or physical treatments and in controls. Significantly lower plasma levels of both sHLA-G and IL-10 were found in psoriatic group compared to controls and in local treated patients in comparison with systemic treated patients. These findings could indicate that low sHLA-G levels may contribute to susceptibility to psoriasis. Absence of differences in HLA-G 14 bp allele and genotype frequencies between psoriatic patients and controls and between patients following different treatments seems to exclude genetic bases of sHLA-G levels. It could be speculated that therapeutics antagonizing systemic T helper 1 activation may induce sHLA-G secretion via an IL-10-dependent pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Acitretin / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use
  • Dermatologic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Genotype
  • HLA Antigens / blood*
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / blood*
  • Humans
  • Immune System / pathology
  • Immune System / physiopathology*
  • Interleukin-10 / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics
  • Psoriasis / blood*
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy
  • Psoriasis / genetics
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Interleukin-10
  • Cyclosporine
  • Acitretin
  • efalizumab