USE OF CYTOKINE EXPRESSION TO PREDICT SKIN INFLAMMATION; METHODS OF TREATMENT
Provided are methods for diagnosing the propensity of a subject to develop skin inflammation, in particular, psoriasis. Also provided are methods of treatment with antagonists of IL-17, IL-19, and/or IL-23.
1 . A method of evaluating the propensity of a subject to develop an inflammatory skin disorder comprising:
a) obtaining a sample of skin from the subject; and
b) quantifying the level of IL-17 or IL-19 expression in the sample.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IL-17 or IL-19 expression is mRNA expression.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of IL-17 or IL-19 expression is quantified by real-time PCR.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory skin disorder is cutaneous inflammation.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the cutaneous inflammation is psoriasis.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the skin sample is from both lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the level of IL-17 expression in the skin sample is an average value between 5 and 20 fold higher than normal skin.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the level of IL-19 expression in the skin sample is an average value of between 5 and 130 fold higher than normal skin.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has:
a) a family history of psoriasis; or
b) previously presented psoriatic symptoms.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human.
11 . A method of preventing skin inflammation comprising administering to a subject exhibiting a propensity to develop skin inflammation:
a) an antagonist of IL-17;
b) an antagonist of IL-23;
c) an antagonist of IL-19; or
c) an antagonist of at least two cytokines selected from the group consisting of IL-17, IL-19, and IL-23.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the skin inflammation is cutaneous inflammation.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cutaneous inflammation is psoriasis.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject expresses an average value of at least 5 fold higher IL-17 expression in a non-lesional psoriatic skin sample compared to a normal skin sample, as quantified by real-time PCR.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject expresses an average value of at least 20 fold higher IL-19 expression in a non-lesional psoriatic skin sample compared to a normal skin sample as quantified by real-time PCR.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the antagonist of IL-17, IL-19, and/or IL-23 is an:
a) antibody or binding fragment thereof;
b) siRNA; or
c) a small molecule inhibitor.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the antibody is:
a) a polyclonal antibody;
b) a monoclonal antibody;
c) a humanized antibody;
d) a bi-specific antibody.