Relevance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and serum interleukin-10 in the severity of psoriasis in South Indian patients: A case–control study

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder and is associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. There is an increased expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-17, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-22, vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) in the serum of psoriasis patients. Serum levels of IL-10, another anti-inflammatory cytokine, have been found at varying values in psoriasis in different regions of the world. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this article is to assess the serum IL-10 and serum VEGF in psoriasis patients with no co-morbidities and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 46 serum samples (23 psoriasis subjects and 23 healthy controls). After informed consent, 3 mL of serum was obtained and stored at -70°C. The samples were quantitatively assessed for VEGF-A and IL-10 by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: This study revealed that the mean (±SD) value of serum VEGF in cases was significantly higher than that in controls (cases = 235.21 ± 138.71; controls = 104.73 ± 36.01 pg/mL). However, levels of serum IL-10, although increased in cases (2.37 ± 1.61 pg/mL) when compared with controls (1.64 ± 0.89 pg/mL), showed no statistical significance. Conclusion: In this study, serum VEGF and IL-10 levels were increased in psoriasis when compared with controls but were not significantly related to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. The significant correlation between serum VEGF and IL-10 levels in cases when compared with controls suggests their role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Persistently increased values in psoriasis patients may lead to the development of comorbidities.