miRNAs and mRNAs in Psoriasis During Treatment With Biological Drugs.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 2-3% of the population worldwide and having tremendously impact on the patients' quality of life. Progress has been made in the understanding of the cellular immunology and biology of psoriasis, but the ultimate cause for psoriasis is still unknown.

miRNA are ~22 nt noncoding RNAs that modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs have regulatory roles in development, differentiation, growth control and apoptosis.

AIM OF PROJECT: To identify psoriasis specific miRNA. To investigate the differences in miRNA expression and their targets between lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin. To investigate changes in the miRNA expression during biological treatment.

METHODS: Patients included are adults (> 18 years) with psoriasis vulgaris who are going to be treated with biological drugs independent of this project (according to national guidelines). A signed informed consent will be obtained before patients are included in the project.

Patients are not allowed to have received local treatment 2 weeks before inclusion or having had any systemic treatment including UVB 6 weeks before inclusion. 4 mm punch-biopsies from lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin will be obtained using a local anaesthetic containing 1% Lidocaine at day 0 and up to four times after treatment at the following days 4, 14, 28 or 84. Before and during treatment patients will be monitored with a clinical score including PASI, BSA and PGA. Clinical evaluation will be conducted by a trained dermatologist at day 0 and day 84. That allows us to compare clinical changes to findings obtained during this study.