الفهرس 
PsoriasisOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that varies in severity; it affects 2–3% of the population. Tumour necrosis factor like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is an important regulator of multiple proinflammatory cytokines through engagement with its sole receptor, fibroblast growth factor inducible 14 (Fn14) receptor. TWEAK/Fn14 signals are important in regulating cell function and maintaining tissue homeostasis. TWEAK and Fn14 are weakly expressed in local tissues or resident cells. However, inflammatory responses and tissue injuries can enhance TWEAK and Fn14 expression. TWEAK/Fn14 activation induces cytokine production, recruits inflammatory cells (macrophages, T cells, and B cells), and regulates cell fate, whether proliferation or apoptosis. TWEAK/Fn14 signals assumed to be participated in the progression of psoriasis vulgaris.
Objectives: The aim of the present study is to estimate the level of TWEAK in serum and tissue of psoriasis vulgaris patients in comparison to controls, and to correlate these levels with PASI score and severity of the disease.
Patients and methods: This case-control study was done on 50 subjects (25 psoriasis vulgaris patients and 25 apparently healthy subjects as controls). Serum and tissue TWEAK levels were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. All patients were subjected to detailed medical history general and local clinical examination and calculation of PASI score for each patient.
Results: In this study tissue and serum TWEAK was significantly higher in patients than controls. Tissue TWEAK was significantly higher than serum TWEAK in patient group. No correlation was detected between tissue and serum TWEAK levels with any of the demographic data, clinical data, PASI score or severity of the disease. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that TWEAK shows 100% sensitivity and 92% specificity regarding serum TWEAK compared to 96% specificity of tissue TWEAK in diagnosing psoriasis vulgaris.
Conclusion: TWEAK plays an important role in pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris and could be a possible target in disease therapy.
Keywords
Tissue TWEAK, Serum TWEAK, Psoriasis vulgaris, PASI score.