Inflammatory Markers for Potential Targeted Therapies for Psoriasis: A Review

Amirah Illyana Harun; Azila Abdul-Aziz; Fazrena Nadia Md Akhir; Guillermo R. Castro

Authors

Amirah Illyana Harun Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Azila Abdul-Aziz Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fazrena Nadia Md Akhir Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Guillermo R. Castro Nanomedicine Research Unit (Nanomed), Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Santo André 09210-580, SP, Brazil

Keywords:

Psoriasis, Targeted drug delivery, Cytokine, Inflammatory markers

Abstract

Psoriasis is characterized by the infiltration of immune cells, epidermal hyperproliferation, and abnormal keratinocyte differentiation. According to recent molecular and cellular research, the key contributors to the pathogenesis of psoriasis are tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 17 (IL-17), and interleukin 22 (IL-22). Various approaches have been applied to treat psoriasis by suppressing inflammatory expressions, either through conventional therapy or nanotechnology therapy. Conventional therapy shows poor therapeutic effectiveness and requires prolonged treatment durations. These challenges can be overcome with advanced targeted drug delivery systems, which consist of passive targeting and active targeting, offering efficient site-specific delivery. In this review, we discuss the inflammatory markers that contribute to psoriasis and their potential in the development of potent targeted treatment drugs. Moreover, the applications of targeted drug delivery systems for treating psoriasis are summarized.