A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study to identify biomarkers associated with active treatment in psoriatic arthritis: effects of adalimumab treatment on lesional and nonlesional skin

Dermatology. 2012;225(4):298-303. doi: 10.1159/000343290. Epub 2012 Dec 21.

Abstract

Background: There is a need for biomarkers to screen the effectiveness of (novel) therapeutic agents for psoriasis at an early stage.

Objective: We aimed to determine which of the changes in psoriatic skin correlates best with clinical improvement 4 weeks after effective adalimumab therapy.

Methods: Twenty-two psoriatic arthritis patients were randomized to receive adalimumab or placebo. T cell numbers and markers of innate immunity were estimated in lesional and nonlesional skin biopsies at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment.

Results: CD161+ and elastase+ dermal cells in lesional skin were significantly reduced upon 4 weeks of successful adalimumab treatment compared with placebo.

Conclusion: Early improvement of psoriasis lesions during adalimumab therapy is associated with a marked reduction of infiltrated dermal CD161+ T cells and elastase+ neutrophils, suggesting that these parameters could be used as biomarkers to monitor early changes after active treatment in small proof-of-concept studies of short duration.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Psoriatic / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Psoriatic / metabolism
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy*
  • Psoriasis / metabolism
  • Skin / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Adalimumab