Regulatory T cells as a therapeutic target in psoriasis

Abstract

Summary Psoriasis is a common condition that affects the skin and joints. Skin psoriasis tends to wax and wane throughout life without obvious reasons, and thus causes considerable distress. Someone with psoriasis may have other family members with the same problem but this is not usually the case. In psoriasis, more skin cells are made leading to build‐up on the top layer and formation of flaky patches on the skin or severe dandruff of the scalp. The cause is unknown and believed to involve the genes and immune system, and the treatments we use now can control psoriasis but don't cure it. This study from Aberdeen, UK looked into two types of cells of the immune system; one of them can start or cause psoriasis to happen, while the other has the power to fight back and calm down the skin. We tested the effect of certain injections, cream and light which we frequently use to treat psoriasis, on those cells by taking blood and skin samples. We found that the skin became better after six weeks. The light made the numbers of the “good” cells go higher, while the injection caused the “bad” cells to become fewer and had no effect on the “good” cells. The cream increased the “good” cells and reduced the “bad” cells. We noticed these changes in both the blood and skin which means that the cream and light can have an effect on cells in the circulation and this can be used in the future to make new and safer treatments.