Author(s): Skroza N, Proietti I, La Viola G, Bernardini N, Aquila E and Potenza C
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and psoriasis represent two chronic relapsing inflammatory disorders respectively of the gastrointestinal tract and of the skin. The relationship between IBDs and psoriasis has been observed only through epidemiological studies, however starting from 1990s genetic and immunological aspects have been studied in detail. Both conditions share a strong genetic correlation that involves the chromosomal loci 6p22, 16q, 1p31 and 5q33. Polymorphisms of these susceptibility loci are related to the alteration of immune mechanisms in both psoriasis and IBD. Cytokines such as IL-17A, IL-22, TGFβ, IL-6, IL-21 and IL-23 influence the activity of T-Helper 17 Cells (Th17) and T-Regulatory Cells (T-Regs), playing a key role into the inflammatory process and tissue damage. The comparable common course of psoriasis and IBD explains systemic implication seen in both conditions and legitimizes similar therapeutical approach. The aim of this article is to explore the nature of the relationship between inflammatory disease and psoriasis in terms of epidemiology, genetics and pathogenesis.
