The level of proinflammatory cytokines: interleukins 12, 23, 17 and tumor necrosis factor α in patients with metabolic syndrome accompanying severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Abstract

Introduction

The incidence of metabolic syndrome is estimated at 15–24% in the general population and at 30–50% in patients with psoriasis. A probable cause of the described correlation is a constant release in chronic dermatosis of proinflammatory cytokines and their influence on individual systems and organs.

Aim

Assessment of the concentration of the proinflammatory cytokines (IL-12, IL-23, IL-17 and TNF-α) in blood serum and their correlation with the intensity of skin lesions, the presence of psoriatic arthritis and the risk of development of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Material and methods

The concentrations of subunit p70 IL-12, IL-17 and IL-23, and TNF-α in subjects with psoriasis and metabolic syndrome were determined.

Results

The level of the studied cytokines, IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α was higher in patients diagnosed with psoriasis. Higher levels of IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α were observed in patients with metabolic syndrome accompanying psoriasis. A higher level of IL-17 and IL-23 was found in sera of patients with psoriatic arthritis in comparison to normal psoriasis.

Conclusions

In the study, a higher level of IL-17 and IL-23 was also shown in patients with psoriatic arthritis in comparison to patients with normal psoriasis. The effectiveness of anti-IL12/23 drugs in psoriatic arthritis is a confirmation of the obtained results of the studies. Additionally, the increased level of IL-17, both in patients with metabolic syndrome and with psoriasis, could indirectly indicate an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with affected joints in comparison to psoriasis affecting only the skin.

Introduction

Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic inflammatory disease with immunologic etiology, depending mainly on T lymphocytes and dendritic cells [1]. Many previous studies have demonstrated a more frequent coincidence of dermatosis with other systemic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MS), cancers, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, depression, and osteoporosis [2–4]. The incidence of metabolic syndrome is estimated at 15–24% in the general population and at 30–50% in patients with psoriasis [5]. A probable cause of the described correlation is a constant release in chronic dermatosis, over the years, of proinflammatory cytokines, mainly tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6, and their influence on individual systems and organs [6]. It is known that mainly IL-12 and IL-23, released by dendritic cells, are important in the immune etiology of psoriasis. They activate Th1 and Th2 to produce many cytokines: IL-17, interferon (IFN)-γ, TNF-α and IL-22, which, by direct stimulation of keratinocytes, cause the formation of psoriatic lesions [1]. The described etiology is confirmed by the results of therapies with antibodies against the above inflammatory molecules, commonly used in the psoriasis treatment. The results of previous studies unambiguously confirm the correlation between the TNF-α in serum and the intensity of skin lesions. The results of studies on the concentration of IL-17 are IL-23 are ambiguous – some of them indicate a strong correlation between the severity of the disease and the level of circulating interleukins, however, there are reports where the evaluated cytokines were indeterminable despite the advancement of the disease [7].

In recent years, the influence of methotrexate on the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular diseases has been described many times. The mechanism of this phenomenon is not known [8]. Currently, the studies are conducted to explain the influence of biological drugs on the development of the individual components of the metabolic syndrome. There are many reports on the reduction of insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and waist circumference in patients receiving anti-TNF [9, 10]. However, experimental studies on mice showed that IL-17 can be a negative regulator of adipogenesis and glucose level and hence it delays the development of obesity [11]. Subsequent studies are necessary to indicate the profile of inflammatory cytokines in patients with psoriasis accompanied by metabolic syndrome, in order to evaluate the potential influence of biological drugs on the reduction of the incidence of complications in the form of diabetes, ischemic heart disease, hypertension or hypercholesterolemia.

Aim

Considering the most widely described influence of IL-12, IL-23, IL-17 and TNF-α on the formation of psoriatic plaques, an attempt was made to assess the concentration of the above proinflammatory cytokines in blood serum and their correlation with the intensity of skin lesions, the presence of psoriatic arthritis and the risk of development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. The association between levels of cytokines in psoriasis and presence of metabolic syndrome could imply the treatment, especially therapy that is correlated with IL-17, IL-23 or TNF-α.

Material and methods

For this study, 60 patients over 18 years of age were included (24 females and 36 males), diagnosed and treated for severe psoriasis (PASI, BSA > 10) in the Dermatology Clinic of the Jagiellonian University Medical College. Control groups comprised 15 subjects diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and 15 healthy voluntary subjects. In both groups, the exclusion criteria were acute and chronic inflammatory diseases with the exception of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia.

For testing, venous blood (5 ml) was collected after the night rest. The concentrations of subunit p70 IL-12, IL-17 and IL-23 and TNF-α in subjects’ sera were determined by Quantikine test with enhanced sensitivity, with the ELISA method. The expected values were: IL-12 ND – 3.58 pg/ml; IL-17 below 31.2 pg/ml; IL-23 ND – 40.5 pg/ml; and TNF-α 0.550 – 2.816 pg/ml. The advancement of psoriasis was evaluated with PASI and BSA scales. The PASI scale (psoriasis area and severity index) combines three physical features: (erythema, desquamation and induration), as three separate parameters, calculated for every part of the body separately, considering their intensity and the percentage of the affected area. Psoriatic arthritis was diagnosed based on the Caspar criteria (2006). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the presence of revised NCEP-ATP III criteria for metabolic syndrome, according to ANA/NHBLI.

A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors that were independently associated with levels of Il-17, IL-23 and TNF-α. Data were summarized descriptively and differences in dichotomous and continuous variables were examined between patients with and without psoriasis and metabolic syndrome. All data were analyzed by Statistica using Mann-Whitney and Spearman’s rho. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

For the above studies, consent of the Bioethics Committee of the Jagiellonian University was obtained.

Results

The IL-12 level in all the subjects was indeterminable (< 0.78 pg/ml). The level of IL-23 and TNF-α was higher in patients diagnosed with psoriasis in comparison to the control group (serum concentration mean values of IL-23 were: 8.33 ±7.83 vs. 3.13 ±3.11 (p < 0.05) and TNF-α 1.98 ±1.50 vs. 1.13 ±0.42 (p < 0.05). The concentration of IL-17 in the study group (2.56 ±3.15), compared to the control group (2.07 ±4.23) was higher, however the results were not statistically significant (p = 0.52) (Figure 1, Table 1). Higher levels of IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α were observed in patients with metabolic syndrome accompanying psoriasis in comparison to patients with chronic dermatosis without the features of this syndrome, however they were significantly different only between the IL-17 groups: IL-17 4.05 vs. 2.09; p < 0.05; IL-23 8.12 vs. 8.25; p = 0.41; TNF-α 2.42 vs. 1.83; p = 0.42 (Figure 2, Table 2). There was no significant change in the serum concentration of all cytokines in the control group in patients with metabolic syndrome in comparison to subjects without the syndrome (TNF-α 1.21 ±0.43; vs. 0.94 ±1.43; p = 0.14; IL-23 2.77 ±1.85 vs. 4.52 ±4.76; p = 0.19; IL-17 2.20 ±1.55 vs. 2.03 ±1.57; p = 0.77). No positive correlation was found between PASI, BSA and the level of cytokines (IL-17, IL-23, TNF-α).

Figure 1.

Serum concentration of IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α in the study and control groups. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate differences between the control and study groups. Median, lower and upper quartiles 25–75%, min.–max. of range are presented

Table 1.

Serum concentration of IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α: detailed results in the psoriasis group and the control group

Parameter	IL-17 assay results [pg/ml]		IL-23 assay results [pg/ml]		TNF-α assay results [pg/ml]
	PsO	Control group	PsO	Control group	PsO	Control group
Valid observations	60	30	60	30	60	30
Mean value	2.56	2.07	8.33	3.13	1.98	1.13
Median	1.88	1.56	8.12	3.01	1.77	1.02
Minimum value	1.75	1.39	5.36	4.66	1.59	0.97
Maximum value	3.37	2.77	10.31	1.77	2.36	1.33
Lower quartile	2.13	1.70	6.61	2.42	1.79	1.04
Upper quartile	2.98	2.42	9.11	3.88	2.18	1.22
Standard deviation	3.15	4.23	7.83	3.11	1.50	0.42
Statistical significance (Mann-Whitney U test)	p = 0.52		p = 0.0011		p = 0.032

Figure 2.

Serum levels of IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α in patients with metabolic syndrome accompanying psoriasis in comparison to patients with psoriasis without the features of this syndrome. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate differences between the control and study groups. Median, lower and upper quartiles 25–75%, min.–max. of range are presented

Table 2.

Serum levels of IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α: detailed results in patients with metabolic syndrome accompanying psoriasis in comparison to patients with psoriasis without the features of this syndrome

Parameter	IL-17 assay results [pg/ml]		IL-23 assay results [pg/ml]		TNF-α assay results [pg/ml]
	Ps + MS	Ps/no MS	Ps + MS	Ps/no MS	Ps + MS	Ps/no MS
Valid observations	30	30	30	30	30	30
Mean value	4.05	2.09	8.12	8.25	2.42	1.83
Median	3.65	1.86	5.12	6.37	1.89	1.13
Minimum value	1.10	1.71	2.10	5.25	1.44	1.47
Maximum value	7.03	2.61	14.02	11.41	2.93	3.40
Lower quartile	2.58	1.88	5.07	6.90	1.92	1.93
Upper quartile	5.62	2.36	11.29	9.94	2.92	1.92
Statistical significance(Mann-Whitney U test)	p = 0.0001		p = 0.41		p = 0.42

Among the patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, no correlation was observed between the level of IL-17, IL-23, TNF-α and BMI (r = 0.03, p = 0.79; r = –0.13, p = 0.32; r = 0.10, p = 0.44). The observations between the waist circumference and cytokines were similar: TNF-α (r = 0.15, p = 0.26) and IL-17 (r = 0.09, p = 0.50) IL-23 (r = –0.06, p = 0.66). Among the patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, no correlation was observed between PASI and the body mass, waist circumference and BMI.

A higher level of IL-23 was found in sera of patients with psoriatic arthritis in comparison to normal psoriasis (PsO 6.35 ±7.89 vs. PsA 14.03 ±14.63; p < 0.05), no positive correlation of IL-17 in these groups was observed (PsO 2.11 ±1.82 vs. PsA 3.88 ±5.38; p = 0.059) (Figure 3, Table 3). Among the patients with psoriatic arthritis, no higher incidence of overweight and obesity was observed than for patients with normal psoriasis (BMI 27.7 ±5.68 vs. 28.1 ±5.22 kg/m².

Figure 3.

Level of IL-17 and IL-23 in sera of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in comparison to psoriasis (PsO). Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate differences between the control and study groups. Median, lower and upper quartiles 25–75%, min.–max. of range are presented

Table 3.

Levels of IL-17 and IL-23: detailed results of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in comparison to psoriasis (PsO)

Parameter	IL-17 assay results [pg/ml]		IL-23 assay results [pg/ml]
	PsO	PsA	PsO	PsA
Valid observations	26	34	26	34
Mean value	2.11	3.88	6.35	14.03
Median	1.88	2.73	2.12	4.31
Minimum value	1.55	1.19	4.00	6.62
Maximum value	2.65	6.58	8.89	21.36
Lower quartile	1.84	2.50	5.19	10.19
Upper quartile	2.41	5.28	7.36	19.91
Standard deviation	1.82	5.38	7.89	14.63
Statistical significance (Mann-Whitney U test)	p = 0.059		p = 0.0038

Discussion

Previous studies show that in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, a special role is played by subpopulations of Th lymphocytes and dendritic cells together with cytokines produced by them: Th1 produce IFN-γ and IL-4 and IL-10, Th17 – IL-17 and IL-22, while Th22 – IL-22 and cytotoxic epithelial lymphocytes T CD8+ [12]. On the other hand, the Th17/IL-23 axis is crucial in maintaining the chronic inflammation, characteristic of the described dermatosis [13]. Interlekin-23, produced by dendritic cells, is a key cytokine taking part in autoimmunisation as it induces reproduction and maturation of Th17 cells. The studies performed confirmed increased levels of IL-23 and TNF-α in the blood of patients with psoriasis in comparison to the control group.

It is assumed that in the pathogenesis of the atherosclerotic plaque, a role is played by many cytokines: TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-18, IL-33, IL-37, and also, important in the course of psoriasis, IL-12, IL-23 and IL-17 [14]. In the recent scientific reports, the prevailing theory has been the generation of the atherosclerotic plaque by chronic inflammation in the course of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. In the results obtained in the study, the patients with metabolic syndrome accompanying psoriasis had a higher level of studied cytokines than patients with the dermatosis only. The described results could have an important influence on the choice of the early method for patient treatment. Current reports point out the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular diseases and the reduction in glycemia and insulin resistance in patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors [15–17]. However, there are also studies showing an increase in the incidence of heart insufficiency and lipid disturbances in a similar group of patients [18, 19]. Similarly inconsistent reports refer to the anti-IL-12/23 therapy [20]. However, there are no studies on the influence of anti-IL-17 drugs on the risk of development of the features of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases [16]. In the obtained results, the level of IL-17 was statistically significantly higher in the group of patients with metabolic syndrome accompanying psoriasis, which could indicate the influence of drugs from the anti-IL17 group not only on the dermatosis, but also on metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular incidents. The results seem especially significant in the context of the control group, where no increased level of IL-17 was found in patients with metabolic syndrome. Maybe IL-17 has a special influence on the occurrence of features of metabolic syndrome specifically in patients with psoriasis.

In the performed study, only a weak correlation of the intensity of the disease with the concentration of TNF-α was confirmed, not significant statistically. Similar results were obtained by other authors [21, 22]. However, there are reports confirming a strong correlation between the intensity of the disease and TNF-α [23]. No correlation was shown between IL-17 and PASI. Similar results of studies, referring to the same cytokines, were obtained by Kyriakou et al. and by El-Moaty-Zaher et al. [24]. On the other hand, Michalak-Stoma et al. and Arican et al. confirmed a positive correlation between the intensity of psoriasis and the level of IL-17 [25, 26].

It is assumed that obesity is related to persisting, chronic inflammation of a low degree [27].

In the studied group of patients, no strong positive correlation was observed between the level of IL-17 and TNF-α and the obesity expressed as the BMI or waist circumference. The relation between the anti-TNF-α treatment and the obesity is unclear. There are many works referring to the increase in body mass during the therapy [28–30]. Studies on mice showed that the deficiency of IL-17 increases the risk of diet-related obesity and accelerates the accumulation of fat tissue even in animals on low-fat diet [11]. Giovanni et al. proved an indirect influence of IL-17 on the presence of early atherosclerosis in obese patients [31]. A negative correlation was observed between the level of IL-23 and the obesity. Similar results were obtained by Owczarczyk-Saczonek et al., in the group of patients treated with anti-IL12/23, studied by them, an increase in body mass and BMI was found during the therapy [32, 33].

In the study, a higher level of IL-17 and IL-23 was also shown, in patients with psoriatic arthritis in comparison to patients with normal psoriasis. Despite the presence of many works studying the level of cytokines in the course of the described diseases, there are no comparative publications for both groups of patients, taking into account the above cytokines. The effectiveness of anti-IL12/23 drugs in psoriatic arthritis is a confirmation of the obtained results of the studies. Additionally, the increased level of IL-17, both in patients with metabolic syndrome and with PsA, could indirectly indicate an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with affected joints in comparison to psoriasis affecting only the skin.

Conclusions

A lot of scientific research from recent years showed a connection between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome. Both nosological entities are accompanied by an increase in the level of proinflammatory cytokines, hyperuricemia, and abnormalities in excreted adipokines [7]. An accurate mechanism explaining the relation between the psoriasis and metabolic disorders is still not known, that is why further studies, evaluating the risk of co-incidence of the above entities, are necessary. The results of such works might lead to changes in therapy options and improve the results of psoriasis treatment.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.