Serum interleukin-30 level in patients with psoriasis and its correlation with psoriasis severity: a case-control study

OBJECTIVES: To examine the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-30 in patients with psoriasis and evaluate the correlations with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). METHODS: Serum was collected from 26 patients with psoriasis and 26 healthy controls in a case–control setting, and the level of IL-30 was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis of the IL-30 levels among groups and further correlation analyses of IL-30 levels with PASI scores were performed. RESULTS: A significant increase in the level of IL-30 in patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls was observed. In addition, a positive correlation between the IL-30 concentration and PASI scores was found in patients with psoriasis. CONCLUSION: IL-30 is presumably involved in the proliferation of epidermal cells during the development of psoriasis. Further studies with a larger number of participants are required to comprehensively elucidate the biological roles of IL-30 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.