Psoriasis treatment with intertwined DNA strands

Psoriasis Breakthrough: Can Monitoring Genes Improve Treatment?

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how tracking TGF-β gene expression could personalize and improve cyclosporin A therapy for psoriasis patients."

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting millions, is more than just a cosmetic concern. It's a complex interplay of the immune system and skin cells, often leading to discomfort and a reduced quality of life. While various treatments exist, finding one that works consistently can be challenging.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a commonly prescribed immunosuppressant for psoriasis. It works by tamping down the overactive immune response that fuels the disease. However, like many psoriasis treatments, CsA can lose its effectiveness over time, leaving patients searching for alternative solutions.

Now, new research offers a glimmer of hope for personalizing psoriasis treatment. Scientists have investigated how monitoring the activity of specific genes, particularly those related to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), could help predict and manage a patient's response to CsA therapy. This article dives into these findings, exploring how gene expression profiling might revolutionize psoriasis care.

TGF-β: Key Player in Psoriasis and Treatment Response

Psoriasis treatment with intertwined DNA strands

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) isn't a single entity, but a family of proteins that play diverse roles in the body, including regulating cell growth, differentiation, and immune responses. In psoriasis, TGF-β isoforms (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) and their receptors (TGF-BRI, TGF-BRII, and TGF-BRIII) are all involved in the complex inflammatory process.

Researchers in this study focused on how CsA therapy impacts the expression of these TGF-β genes in psoriasis patients. They tracked gene activity in a group of 32 patients undergoing CsA treatment for 84 days, measuring TGF-β and receptor gene expression at the start, mid-point, and end of the study.

Here's what the study revealed:

TGF-β1: Initially decreased, then slightly increased again after prolonged CsA exposure.
TGF-β3: Increased mid-treatment, but decreased with longer CsA use.
TGF-BRI and TGF-BRII: Varied significantly during the treatment.
TGF-BRIII: Showed continuous reduction in expression over time.

These changes in gene expression suggest that CsA's impact on psoriasis isn't static. The drug appears to trigger a dynamic shift in the activity of TGF-β genes, potentially influencing its long-term effectiveness. Moreover, the research team observed considerable differences between TGF-β isoforms, highlighting the fact that they have individual roles and contribute distinctively in the therapy journey.

A Future of Personalized Psoriasis Care?

The study's findings suggest that monitoring TGF-β gene expression could offer a valuable tool for personalizing psoriasis treatment. By tracking these molecular markers, doctors might be able to predict how a patient will respond to CsA, adjust dosages, or switch to alternative therapies before the treatment loses its effectiveness.

While more research is needed, TGF-β1 shows particular promise as a potential marker for CsA sensitivity. Increased expression correlated with improvements in skin condition, suggesting it could help identify patients who are responding well to the treatment.

The future of psoriasis treatment may involve a more personalized approach, where gene expression profiles guide treatment decisions. This could lead to more effective therapies, fewer side effects, and ultimately, clearer skin for those living with psoriasis. It's a future where molecular insights transform how we manage this challenging condition.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5114/ada.2018.77242, Alternate LINK

Title: Variances In The Mrna Expression Profile Of Tgf-Β1–3 Isoforms And Its Tgf-Βri–Iii Receptors During Cyclosporin A Treatment Of Psoriatic Patients

Subject: Dermatology

Journal: Advances in Dermatology and Allergology

Publisher: Termedia Sp. z.o.o.

Authors: Anna Michalska-Bańkowska, Dominika Wcisło-Dziadecka, Beniamin Grabarek, Ligia Brzezińska-Wcisło, Urszula Mazurek, Natalia Salwowska, Mirosław Bańkowski

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by an overactive immune response and rapid skin cell growth. This leads to the formation of thick, scaly patches on the skin, causing discomfort and potentially impacting the patient's quality of life. It's a complex condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, leading to the symptoms observed.

How does Cyclosporin A (CsA) work to treat psoriasis?

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a medication used to treat psoriasis. It works by suppressing the immune system, which is overactive in people with psoriasis. By dampening the immune response, CsA helps to reduce inflammation and slow down the rapid skin cell growth that characterizes the condition. This can lead to clearer skin and relief from symptoms. However, the effectiveness of CsA can diminish over time.

What is the role of Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in psoriasis?

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a family of proteins involved in various biological processes, including regulating cell growth, differentiation, and immune responses. In the context of psoriasis, TGF-β isoforms and their receptors are involved in the inflammatory process. Research focuses on how the activity of TGF-β genes is affected by treatments like Cyclosporin A (CsA). Monitoring these genes could help personalize treatment approaches.

How can monitoring TGF-β gene expression help with psoriasis treatment?

Monitoring the expression of TGF-β genes could help personalize psoriasis treatment by allowing doctors to predict a patient's response to Cyclosporin A (CsA). The study tracked gene activity in psoriasis patients undergoing CsA treatment, measuring TGF-β and receptor gene expression. By understanding how these genes respond to CsA, doctors might be able to adjust dosages, or switch to alternative therapies before the treatment loses its effectiveness.

What were the main findings of the study regarding Cyclosporin A (CsA) and TGF-β genes?

The study revealed that Cyclosporin A (CsA) impacts TGF-β gene expression dynamically. The study tracked changes in TGF-β1, TGF-β3, TGF-BRI, TGF-BRII, and TGF-BRIII gene expression in psoriasis patients during CsA treatment. These findings highlight that Cyclosporin A's effect on psoriasis isn't constant and suggest that the drug triggers a shift in TGF-β gene activity, which influences its long-term effectiveness. The differences between TGF-β isoforms also highlight their individual roles in the therapy process.