Etanercept does not have an apoptosis-inducing effect on psoriatic keratinocytes

• Published in: The Journal of dermatological treatment Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 306 - 310
• Main Authors: Tatlican, Semih, Arikok, Ataturker, Gulbahar, Ozlem, Eren, Cemile, Cevirgen, Bengu, Eskioglu, Fatma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oslo Informa UK, Ltd 01.09.2010; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult; apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Case-Control Studies; Dermatologic Agents - pharmacology; Dermatologic Agents - therapeutic use; Dermatology; Epidermis - drug effects; Epidermis - metabolism; Epidermis - pathology; Etanercept; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - pharmacology; Immunoglobulin G - therapeutic use; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Nick-End Labeling - methods; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Keratinocytes - pathology; Ki-67 Antigen - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; psoriasis; Psoriasis - drug therapy; Psoriasis - metabolism; Psoriasis - pathology; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Human; Skin disease; Psoriasis; Cytokine; Antipsoriatic agent; Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Immunomodulator; Treatment; Etanercept; Cell death; Anticytokine; Keratinocyte; Skin; Antagonist; Fusion protein; Tumor necrosis factor α; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0954-6634; 1471-1753; 1471-1753
• DOI: 10.3109/09546630903302194

Abstract Background: Tumor necrosis factor-α is the key inflammatory cytokine in psoriasis vulgaris triggering abnormal differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes. Etanercept as an antitumor necrosis factor-α agent is widely used for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. Objectives: To find out whether etanercept has an apoptotic effect on psoriatic keratinocytes. Methods: Biopsies from 13 untreated chronic plaque psoriasis patients and 10 control subjects were examined in the study. Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method for the detection of apoptosis were performed. Ki-67 and TUNEL indices were calculated. Results: The mean Ki-67 index of patients before treatment (34.20 ± 10.30) was significantly higher than that of the control subjects (8.30 ± 2.20) and of the treated patients (9.50 ± 2.50); however, it did not differ between the treated patients and control subjects (p < 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.208, respectively). Although the mean TUNEL index of patients before treatment (0.23 ± 0.44) was significantly lower than the controls (1.1 ± 0.99), it did not significantly differ after etanercept therapy (0.46 ± 0.66) (p = 0.030 and p = 0.083, respectively). The mean TUNEL indices of treated patients and control subjects were not different (p = 0.131). Conclusion: Etanercept decreased epidermal thickness successfully without inducing apoptosis of psoriatic keratinocytes.