Clear Skin: Injections counteract psoriasis in patients
By Nathan Seppa
Injections of an immune system protein can alleviate skin problems in people with psoriasis, a German-Dutch research team reports. The well-tolerated protein, called interleukin-4, works as well as a powerful standard therapy known to cause severe side effects. If the results are confirmed in larger studies, interleukin-4 could offer an alternative therapy for this difficult-to-treat disease.
Psoriasis is marked by an overproduction of skin cells. The scaly skin that results causes itching, burning, and pain. Scientists consider the disease an autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system attacks a person’s own tissues.