11 Psoriasis/acne and disorders of keratinization

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Publish Date: 2004/01/28

Volume: 8, Issue: 1, Pages: 63-64

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Abstract

BACKGROUND Recent findings implicating immunologic factors in the pathogenesis of psoriasis has resulted in exploration of therapies that target the activity of T lymphocytes and cytokines Efalizumab and alefacept are two of the promising agents Their mechanisms of action as well as efficacy and safety data are reviewedFINDINGSEfalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody hu 1124 against the CD11a molecule CD11a and CD18 are subunits of leukocytefunctionassociated antigen1 LFA1 a Tcell surface molecule important in activation migration into skin and cytotoxic function of Tcells When efalizumab binds to CD11a on T cells interaction is blocked between LFA1 and intercellular adhesion molecule1 ICAM1 its partner in adhesion Recent phase 3 trials of efalizumab

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