Interleukin-19 Associated with Psoriasis
Title: Interleukin-19 upregulates keratinocyte
growth factor and is associated with psoriasis.
Authors: Li HH, et al.
Publication: Br J Dermatol. 2005 Sep;153(3):591-5.
Interleukin (IL)-19 is a type of lymphokine that stimulates,
regulates or modulates lymphocytes or white blood cells such as
T cells. IL-19 signals through other proteins that have been shown
to be involved in abnormal formation and proliferation of keratinocyte
(cells that produce keratin).
The authors wanted to investigate the role of IL-19 in psoriasis.
To do this, they measured the expression of keratinocyte growth
factor (KGF) by polymerase chain reaction in cells treated with
IL-19. They found that IL-19 can cause more KGF to be produced.
The authors then measured the level of IL-19 in the serum or
blood of patients with psoriasis and healthy volunteers using
antibodies against IL-19. They found that patients with psoriasis
had statistically significant lower levels of IL-10 than healthy
volunteer.
These results suggested that IL-19 played a role in the development
of psoriasis.