Alarmins HMGB1, IL-33, S100A7, and S100A12 in Psoriasis Vulgaris

Background. Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with systemic inflammation. Increased levels of numerous cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and other molecules were found in the skin and in the circulation of psoriatic patients. Alarmins, also known as danger signals, are intracellular proteins, which are released to an extracellular space after infection or damage. They are the markers of cell destructive processes. Objective. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of selected alarmins (HMGB1, IL-33, S100A7, and S100A12) as potential biomarkers of severity of psoriasis and to explore possible relationships between these proteins for the purpose of better understanding their roles in the immunopathology of psoriasis. Methods. The serum levels of selected alarmins were measured in 63 psoriatic patients and 95 control individuals. The levels were assessed by the ELISA technique using commercial kits. The data were statistically processed with MedCalc version 19.0.5. Results. In psoriatic patients, we found significantly increased levels of HMGB1 (p