Squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCCr-Ag) , sICAM-1 and beta 2-microglobulin are useful markers of disease activity in psoriasis
De Pità, O.; Frezzolini, A.; Cianetti, A.; De Sanctis, G.; Fontana, L.; Bottari, V.
Acta Dermato-Venereologica 79(2): 132-135
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5555 PMID: 10228632 Document Number: 500398
Several published studies suggest the involvement of immune and inflammatory factors in psoriasis. We recently demonstrated that the number of circulating ICAM-1 + lymphocytes and the levels beta 2-microglobulin are useful parameters in monitoring the activity of the disease. In this study we investigated serum levels of SCCr-Ag in 24 patients with psoriasis in order to determine whether this antigen is a marker of disease activity. Our results demonstrated high serum levels of SCCr-Ag, IL-2, sIL-2R, sCD4, sCD8, sICAM-1 and beta 2-microglobulin in the acute phase of psoriasis. Furthermore, we found a positive correlation of SCC with TBSA, PASI score, sICAM-1 and beta 2-microglobulin. These data demonstrate that serum levels of SCCr-Ag depend on the severity of the disease and correlate with both immunological and inflammatory markers of disease activity. We suggest that expression of SCCr-Ag may be induced by cytokines in the microenvironment of psoriatic lesions, suggesting that SCC-Ag may play a role in the inflammatory process.