Master’s Thesis at the University of Babylon on Psoriasis
The College of Medicine at the University of Babylon, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, discussed the master’s thesis of student Samar Sahib Saleh entitled:
“The Dermatological Effects of Tofacitinib, Enoxaparin, and Apremilast on a Rat Model of Psoriasis.”
The thesis was supervised by Asst. Prof. Majid Kazem Abbas, and attended by the Head of the Department, Asst. Prof. Dr. Riyadh Hashem Al-Mousawi, along with several faculty members and postgraduate students.
During her defense, the researcher explained that psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects about 3% of the world’s population. Its exact cause remains unclear; however, it is evident that psoriasis involves multiple components, with environmental, genetic, and immune variables playing a critical role in disease pathogenesis.
T cells and dendritic cells are integral in forming the characteristic psoriatic lesions. Interleukin activation directly affects keratinocytes, leading to the appearance of typical psoriatic plaques. An additional important pathogenic factor occurs in the epidermis, involving progressive disorders that result in epidermal hyperplasia and are characterized by retained nuclei within keratinocytes of the epidermal stratum.
The treatment of psoriasis poses major challenges, often failing to meet patient expectations. Many patients withdraw from social interaction due to the profound psychological impact of the disease. Therefore, identifying an effective therapeutic drug for disease prevention is a critical task.
This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of apremilast, tofacitinib, and low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin) on animal models (rats) induced with psoriasis. In addition, it evaluated the effects of these treatments on various pro-inflammatory biomarkers (IL-17A, IL-23, TNF-?) in an imiquimod-induced rat model of psoriasis.
Conclusion:
The study concluded that apremilast, tofacitinib, and enoxaparin exhibit strong anti-inflammatory properties that can improve psoriatic manifestations. They were also found to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A, IL-23, TNF-?) and decrease splenomegaly induced by imiquimod.