The Science and Immunology of Psoriasis

Psoriasis vulgaris is a heterogeneous, chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by thickened, red, scaly plaques and systemic inflammation. The pathogenesis of psoriasis is complex and is driven by pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-23, IL-17 and TNF, as well as the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes. Other factors modify the clinical expression of psoriasis, such as genes, age, environmental factors, infections, and medications. The purpose of this lecture is to provide an understandable overview of the current working immune model of psoriatic disease and to provide a framework for understanding how first-generation and newer, novel systemic therapies result in disease improvement.

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of clinicians and non-clinicians involved in the care of patients with psoriasis.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants will able to:

1. Participants will review the epidemiology, genetic, clinical variations, pathogenic features, and immune pathways contributing to psoriatic disease.
2. Participants will understand the central role that IL-23/IL-17 cytokine signaling plays in the development of psoriasis.
3. Participants will recall the current immune model of psoriasis, including the various cytokine and immune pathways contributing to disease.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Your CE Source ensures balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all our educational programs. In accordance with this policy, Your CE Source identifies conflicts of interest with its instructors, content managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of an activity. Conflicts are resolved by Your CE Source to ensure that all scientific research referred to, reported, or used in a continuing education activity conforms to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis. Your CE Source is committed to providing its learners with high-quality activities that promote improvements or quality in health care and not the business interest of a commercial interest.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships with commercial interests whose products or services may be mentioned in this activity:

The content managers reported the following financial relationships with commercial interests whose products or services may be mentioned in this activity: 

All other faculty, planner and/or content managers have nothing to disclose nor do they have any vested interests or affiliations. All conflicts of interest have been resolved.

Physician Credit

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Your CE Source and LearnHealth. Your CE Source is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Your CE Source designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Credit

This CE activity provides 1 contact hour of continuing nursing education. Your CE Source is a provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 16031.

Method of Participation

Participants must 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures, 2) study the educational activity, 3) complete the post test by recording the best answer to each quiz question, and 4) complete the evaluation form.

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed post-test with a score of 70% or better. Statements of credit will be available once the evaluation form is completed.

Disclaimer

The content, views, and opinions presented in this educational activity are those of the faculty/authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Your CE Source and/or LearnHealth. The faculty/authors have disclosed if there is any discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA in their presentations. Before prescribing any medicine, primary references and full prescribing information should be consulted. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management.

Learners are required to adhere to the privacy and confidentiality policy as it relates to the CE activities provided on the Internet. Please see the policy at https://www.yourcesource.org