Calcipotriol-betamethasone foam modulates serum and tissue IL-17A, IL-31, IL-31RA, and substance P in mild-to-moderate psoriatic itch: A clinical and immunopathological study.
7 affiliations
- 1Rare Skin Diseases Unit, Section of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, European Reference Network for Rare and Undiagnosed Skin Disorders Member, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
- 2Section of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.
- 3Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, and Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico di Reggio Emilia, Skin Cancer Centre, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
- 4Dermatology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Toscana Nord Ovest, Lucca, Italy.
- 5Dermatology Unit, Ospedale San Bartolo, Vicenza, Italy.
- 6Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
- 7Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Abstract
Although itching is a common psoriasis symptom, its pathogenesis remains partially elucidated. We evaluated clinical pruritus features and associated serum and tissue cytokine profiles in 25 patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis who were treated with calcipotriol-betamethasone foam over 4 weeks. Clinical scores comprised the PASI, Dermatology Life Quality Index, pruritus Visual Analogue Scale, and Itch Severity Scale. Serum and tissue levels of IL-17A, IL-31, IL-31RA, and substance P were evaluated before and after therapy. Most patients had severe pruritus and marked QOL impairment. PASI was significantly related to Dermatology Life Quality Index, unlike itch scores. Significant sex-related differences in itching scores emerged, while Body Mass Index and lesion localization were associated with specific clinical scores. Treatment induced a marked reduction of cytokines in both serum and lesional tissue, although no correlation was found with clinical scores. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence demonstrated distinct cutaneous distributions for each mediator, suggesting an interplay of neural and immune pathways, with eccrine glands as a potential anatomical hub. Our findings suggest a local modulation of the cutaneous neuro-immune axis by calcipotriol-betamethasone foam. Ultimately, given the topical nature of this therapy, tissue-level measurements provide a more accurate representation of lesional pruritus dynamics than serological data.
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BibTeX
@article{bonanni2026calcipotriolbetamethasone,
title = {{Calcipotriol-betamethasone foam modulates serum and tissue IL-17A, IL-31, IL-31RA, and substance P in mild-to-moderate psoriatic itch: A clinical and immunopathological study.}},
author = {Irene Bonanni and Lavinia Quintarelli and Elena Del Bianco and Beatrice Bianchi and Marta Donati and Alessandro Magnatta and Luca Sanna and Virginia Corti and Simone Landini and Elena Biancamaria Mariotti and Valentina Ruffo di Calabria and Alberto Corrà and Alessio Coi and Chiara Della Bella and Alice Verdelli and Walter Volpi and Marzia Caproni},
journal = {JID innovations : skin science from molecules to population health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.xjidi.2026.100541},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909147},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Calcipotriol-betamethasone foam modulates serum and tissue IL-17A, IL-31, IL-31RA, and substance P in mild-to-moderate psoriatic itch: A clinical and immunopathological study.
AU - Irene Bonanni
AU - Lavinia Quintarelli
AU - Elena Del Bianco
AU - Beatrice Bianchi
AU - Marta Donati
AU - Alessandro Magnatta
AU - Luca Sanna
AU - Virginia Corti
AU - Simone Landini
AU - Elena Biancamaria Mariotti
AU - Valentina Ruffo di Calabria
AU - Alberto Corrà
AU - Alessio Coi
AU - Chiara Della Bella
AU - Alice Verdelli
AU - Walter Volpi
AU - Marzia Caproni
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - JID innovations : skin science from molecules to population health
DO - 10.1016/j.xjidi.2026.100541
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909147
AB - Although itching is a common psoriasis symptom, its pathogenesis remains partially elucidated. We evaluated clinical pruritus features and associated serum and tissue cytokine profiles in 25 patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis who were treated with calcipotriol-betamethasone foam over 4 weeks. Clinical scores comprised the PASI, Dermatology Life Quality Index, pruritus Visual Analogue Scale, and Itch Severity Scale. Serum and tissue levels of IL-17A, IL-31, IL-31RA, and substance P were evaluated before and after therapy. Most patients had severe pruritus and marked QOL impairment. PASI was significantly related to Dermatology Life Quality Index, unlike itch scores. Significant sex-related differences in itching scores emerged, while Body Mass Index and lesion localization were associated with specific clinical scores. Treatment induced a marked reduction of cytokines in both serum and lesional tissue, although no correlation was found with clinical scores. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence demonstrated distinct cutaneous distributions for each mediator, suggesting an interplay of neural and immune pathways, with eccrine glands as a potential anatomical hub. Our findings suggest a local modulation of the cutaneous neuro-immune axis by calcipotriol-betamethasone foam. Ultimately, given the topical nature of this therapy, tissue-level measurements provide a more accurate representation of lesional pruritus dynamics than serological data.
SN - 2667-0267
ER -