Salivary interleukin-1β: Oral inflammatory biomarker in patients with psoriasis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate salivary interleukin (IL)-1β levels in patients with psoriasis, before and after treatment with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors. METHODS: In this pilot study, salivary secretions were collected from patients with psoriasis and untreated healthy control subjects at baseline, and from patients after 12 weeks’ treatment with TNF-α inhibitors. IL-1β levels were determined in saliva samples via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, undertaken before and after TNF-α inhibitor treatment. Psoriasis-specific analysis of disease severity and activity were also undertaken. RESULTS: At baseline, patients (n = 25) had significantly higher salivary IL1β levels than controls (n = 20). In patients with psoriasis, TNF-α inhibitor treatment resulted in significantly reduced IL1β levels compared with baseline, but IL1β levels remained significantly higher than in control subjects even after treatment. There was a positive correlation between IL-1β levels, psoriasis activity and disease index score after TNF-α inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSION: Saliva is a valid noninvasive tool for monitoring inflammation in psoriasis. TNF-α inhibitor treatments appear to interfere with the oral inflammatory process in patients with psoriasis.