Background: As a chronic inflammatory condition, psoriasis results from an interaction between genetic and immunologic factors in a predisposing environment. In spite of compelling evidence for the role of T cells and cytokines in psoriasis, interleukin (IL)- 10 and IL-22 have not been sufficiently investigated. Objective: To assess the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-22 in patients with psori...

IL-22 is a cytokine recently discovered to be produced by TH17 cells. Its receptor is expressed in the skin, liver, the digestive and the respiratory tract where IL-22 conveys signals of the immune system directly to the tissue. IL-22 is involved in the host defense against extracellular pathogens as well as in autoimmune inflammatory diseases and exerts, depending on the tissue and inflammator...

Many studies from recent years have shown that cytokines like IL-22, IL-17A, and IL-17F play a major role in both the defense against certain microbes and the development and maintenance of chronic inflammatory diseases. These mediators are often secreted by subpopulations of T-helper cells called Th17 cells and Th22 cells, respectively. This chapter provides an overview about the common and di...