Use of cytokine expression to predict skin inflammation; methods of treatment

Abstract

Provided are methods for diagnosing the propensity of a subject to develop skin inflammation, in particular, psoriasis. Also provided are methods of treatment with antagonists of IL-17, IL-19, and/or IL-23.

1 . A method of evaluating the propensity of a subject to develop an inflammatory skin disorder comprising: 
 a) obtaining a sample of skin from the subject; and    b) quantifying the level of IL-17 or IL-19 expression in the sample.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the IL-17 or IL-19 expression is mRNA expression.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of IL-17 or IL-19 expression is quantified by real-time PCR.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory skin disorder is cutaneous inflammation.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cutaneous inflammation is psoriasis.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin sample is from both lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the level of IL-17 expression in the skin sample is an average value between 5 and 20 fold higher than normal skin.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the level of IL-19 expression in the skin sample is an average value of between 5 and 130 fold higher than normal skin.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has: 
 a) a family history of psoriasis; or    b) previously presented psoriatic symptoms.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human.  
     
     
         11 . A method of preventing skin inflammation comprising administering to a subject exhibiting a propensity to develop skin inflammation: 
 a) an antagonist of IL-17;    b) an antagonist of IL-23;    c) an antagonist of IL-19; or    c) an antagonist of at least two cytokines selected from the group consisting of IL-17, IL-19, and IL-23.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the skin inflammation is cutaneous inflammation.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cutaneous inflammation is psoriasis.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject expresses an average value of at least 5 fold higher IL-17 expression in a non-lesional psoriatic skin sample compared to a normal skin sample, as quantified by real-time PCR.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject expresses an average value of at least 20 fold higher IL-19 expression in a non-lesional psoriatic skin sample compared to a normal skin sample as quantified by real-time PCR.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antagonist of IL-17, IL-19, and/or IL-23 is an: 
 a) antibody or binding fragment thereof;    b) siRNA; or    c) a small molecule inhibitor.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antibody is: 
 a) a polyclonal antibody;    b) a monoclonal antibody;    c) a humanized antibody;    d) a bi-specific antibody.