Pathogenesis of psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common, disfiguring, inflammatory and proliferative condition of the skin, in which both genetic and environmental influences have a critical role. The disease had been traditionally considered as a hyperproliferative disorder and various treatment modalities supposedly had anti-proliferative actions. Recently the advances in molecular techniques have given a new view regarding the pathogenesis of the disease. Now there is considerable evidence to suggest that psoriasis is a T-cell mediated inflammatory disease and various treatment options are now becoming available which effect different steps of this immune mechanism. Considering the importance of psoriasis it is considered mandatory to review the recently revised pathogenesis of the disease along with a brief description of the mechanism of action of various biological agents which are being used in the treatment