ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the role of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and summarizes the clinical trials data for medications that target the IL-17 inflammatory pathway. It also summarizes the results of the phase II studies. IL-17F and IL-17A share 50% homology, more than any other members of the IL-17 family of cytokines. In mucosal and epithelial cells, IL-17C is thought to play an important role in the innate immune response. Epithelial cells can detect pathogens in the microenvironment through the use of pathogen-recognition receptors such as the Toll-like receptor. Secukinumab is a fully human immunoglobulin G1k monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL-17A. Drug development in psoriasis has focused primarily on biologic medications that neutralize specific cytokines critical to psoriatic inflammation. Advances in immunology have greatly enhanced our knowledge of the pathogenesis of psoriasis. There are multiple biologic medications in development targeting the IL-17 inflammatory pathway.
