Research Sheds Light on Role of Immune System in Psoriasis

Around 2% of the world's population is affected by psoriasis, which is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder.

A group of inflammatory molecules known as interleukins activate an immune response that causes itchy skin, but it is unclear how the skin cells and immune cells communicate. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers led by Manfred Kopf at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Z�rich, Switzerland found that mice lacking interleukin-36 (IL-36) were protected from immune-mediated skin inflammation. These results indicate that IL-36 might be a useful therapeutic target in the treatment of psoriasis.

Source: Eurekalert