@article{mbs:/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.003939-0, author = "Jain, Sarika and Kaur, Iqbal R. and Das, Shukla and Bhattacharya, S. N. and Singh, Anjani", title = "T helper 1 to T helper 2 shift in cytokine expression: an autoregulatory process in superantigen-associated psoriasis progression?", journal= "Journal of Medical Microbiology", year = "2009", volume = "58", number = "2", pages = "180-184", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.003939-0", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.003939-0", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1473-5644", type = "Journal Article", keywords = "IFN-γ, gamma interferon", keywords = "SEB, staphylococcal enterotoxin B", keywords = "SPEA, streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A", keywords = "IL, interleukin", keywords = "PHA, phytohaemagglutinin", keywords = "PV, psoriasis vulgaris", keywords = "PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell", keywords = "Th, T helper", abstract = "Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by increased activation of CD4+ T lymphocytes, and systemic and local overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 2 (IL-2), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha, indicating that immunopathogenesis of the disease is T helper 1 (Th1) mediated. Several studies suggest a pivotal role of bacterial superantigens in the initiation and/or exacerbation of this illness. This study was conducted to assess the systemic Th1/Th2 imbalance in Indian psoriasis patients presenting with variable duration of disease by studying systemic superantigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytokine expression. PBMCs were isolated and stimulated in vitro with superantigens (streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and staphylococcal enterotoxin B), and the cytokines released (IFN-γ for a Th1 response, and IL-4 and IL-10 for a Th2 response) were assayed. In contrast to controls, psoriasis patients in the early course of disease were characterized by significantly increased expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ, whilst a shift towards IL-10 secretion (Th2 response) was observed in those presenting with increased duration of disease. These observations suggest a possible shift from a Th1 to a Th2 cytokine response with superantigen-associated progression for the duration of psoriasis, perhaps as an adaptive process by the immune system in an attempt to downregulate abnormal inflammatory Th1 immune responses.", }