Alefacept - Introduction

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated skin disease in which T cells initiate and maintain the pathogenic process.(1) T cells become activated, migrate into the skin, and induce the keratinocyte proliferation associated with the psoriatic phenotype. The activated T cells that infiltrate the skin express the memory phenotype (CD45RO(+)).(2,3) Both CD4(+) and CD8(+) memory T-cell subtypes are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The effectiveness of many traditional therapies for psoriasis (e.g., cyclosporine, methotrexate, psoralen/ultraviolet A light) can be attributed, at least in part, to the potent immunosuppressive effects of these treatments.(4,5) Unfortunately, a lack of selective targeting of the immune system by these therapies may result in treatment-limiting side effects.