DIFFERENTIAL BEHAVIOR OF 3 SOLUBLE MEMBRANE MOLECULES IN SERA AND SUCTION BLISTER FLUIDS FROM LESIONAL AND NON-LESIONAL SKIN OF PSORIATIC PATIENTS - COMPARISON WITH SKIN OF NORMAL DONORS

Three soluble membrane molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sI CAM-1), inteleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), were measured in suction blister fluids obtained from lesional and no n-lesional skin of 20 psoriatic patients (using the Kiistala method). Sera and skin blister fluids of 10 normal subjects were used for compa risons. All these molecules were detected in all the sample types, but showed different behavior. In fact, sICAM-1 and B2M levels found in t he blister fluids were lower than levels found in patients' sera. On t he other hand sIL-2R levels detected in lesional fluids were higher th an those found in both the sera and the non-lesional fluids. A gradien t of concentrations was observed for sICAM-1 which declined from lesio nal to non-lesional fluids. A gradient of concentrations was observed for sICAM-1 which declined from lesional to non-lesional fluids to nor mal skin fluids. The patients' sera showed higher levels of the three molecules than the normal sera and a significantly high correlation wa s found between the involved skin blister fluids (ISBF) and uninvolved skin blister fluid (USBF) amounts. Furthermore, the serum levels of t he three molecules directly correlated with the levels observed in USB Fs and, in the case of sICAM-1 and sIL-2R, also with ISBFs. Finally, t he B2M amounts measured in ISBFs were correlated with the PASI scores. The possible mechanisms influencing the concentrations of the soluble molecules detected in the blister fluids are analyzed.