Psoriasis

Celera Identifies Two Genetic Variations Predisposing Individuals to Increased Risk for Psoriasis

Celera today announced the publication of its findings that variants in two genes (IL12B and IL23R) involved in regulating the behavior of cells of the immune system independently contribute to psoriasis risk. Individuals who carry two copies of the risk alleles for both these genes, which occur in approximately 25 percent of Caucasians, were found to have a three-fold increased risk for psoriasis relative to individuals with certain other genotypes of these genes. These research findings provide genetic evidence to support the ongoing development of therapeutics that target the interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 (IL-12 and IL-23) pathways.