Cellular and Molecular Changes in Psoriasis Lesions Induced by Ustekinumab: Distinct Differences in Responders vs. Non-Responders

A gene expression profiling sub-study was conducted in which skin biopsy samples (n=192) were collected for RNA extraction and hybridization to microarrays from patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who participated in ACCEPT, an IRB-approved Phase 3, multicenter, randomized trial. This analysis identified gene expressions significantly modulated in psoriasis lesions (LS) following ustekinumab or etanercept treatment at week 12 compared to baseline. Molecular expression of mRNA was found to be different in ustekinumab PASI75 responders vs. nonresponders. Differential modulation of selected mRNAs was also observed between ustekinumab and etanercept PASI75 responders. Skin biopsy samples (n=192) were collected at baseline and 12 weeks after ustekinumab or etanercept treatment for RNA extraction and microarray analysis from patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.