NOVEL STEROID DERIVATIVE MODULATES GENE-EXPRESSION OF CYTOKINES AND GROWTH-REGULATORS

Topical steroid treatment is a common therapy for psoriasis. Steroids are knows to bind to specific cytoplasmic receptors and to influence g ene expression. We investigated the effects of the novel steroid deriv ative mometasone furoate on the expression of putative target genes in normal human epidermal cells (KC). Gene expression was measured by se miquantitative mRNA-PCR. In addition, cytokine receptor characteristic s were assessed by ligand binding studies, We found a dose-dependent d ownregulation of proinflammatory mediators (IL-8, TNF alpha). Genes in volved in growth regulation (HER-2, p53) were also modulated, IL-8 bin ding to KC was inhibited. We conclude that modulation of the expressio n of cytokine, cytokine receptor and growth factor genes may contribut e to the antipsoriatic action of steroids.