Evaluation of cytokine gene expression in psoriasis.

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the skin with an unclear etiological significance.

Aim: In this study, we determined the mRNA expression and circulating levels of T helper (Th)/T regulatory (Treg) cytokines in psoriasis and analyzed their association with disease severity and treatment response.

Material And Methods: 189 psoriasis patients and 189 controls were recruited.

Correlation of antimuscarinic acetylcholine receptor antibody titers and antidesmoglein antibody titers with the severity of disease in patients with pemphigus.

Background: Acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody levels significantly correlate with disease severity at initial pemphigus diagnosis and during follow-up. However, it is not clear if they are just an epiphenomenon or a potential trigger of the known pathogenic process in pemphigus vulgaris.

Objective: We sought to assess the changes in anti-muscarinic (M3) AchR and anti-desmoglein (Dsg) antibody titers with therapy.