Evaluation of IL-37 and VEGF biomarkers in psoriasis: a comparative study with control subjects

Introduction
Psoriasis is a persistent, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that affects a significant portion of the global population and is often associated with comorbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. The pathogenesis of psoriasis involves complex interactions between genetic, immune, and environmental factors, leading to excessive keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation.

Aim
This study investigates the role of two critical biomarkers, interleukin-37 (IL-37) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in psoriasis; the primary objective was to compare the levels of IL-37 and VEGF in psoriasis patients with varying disease durations and healthy control subjects.

Material and methods
The study included 100 participants, with 50 psoriasis patients and 50 healthy controls, with age ranging from 10 to 60 years. Blood samples were collected from each participant and analyzed for IL-37 and VEGF levels using ELISA.

Results
The results revealed significantly higher levels of IL-37 and VEGF in psoriasis patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant direct correlation was detected between serum IL-37 and VEGF concentrations, on one hand, and both PASI score and disease duration (p < 0.001).

Conclusions
These findings support the usefulness of IL-37 and VEGF as biomarkers for assessing disease severity and monitoring treatment efficacy in psoriasis. Moreover, the study opens avenues for exploring IL-37 and VEGF as therapeutic targets to regulate inflammation and angiogenesis in psoriasis patients, potentially improving patient outcomes and informing clinical management strategies.