Grant: Summer Student Research Scholarships in Psoriatic Diseases

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints and is often seen in people with psoriasis. PsA can lead to joint damage, pain, and reduced mobility, significantly impacting a person’s quality of life. While PsA affects men and women equally, men often experience worse joint damage, whereas women tend to report more pain despite having similar levels of inflammation. Understanding these differences is crucial to improving treatment and disease management. This study focuses on interferons (IFNs), a group of immune proteins that are known to play a role in autoimmune diseases. We will investigate whether IFNs provide a protective effect in PsA by reducing joint damage and counteracting harmful inflammation. The study also examines whether women have higher levels of IFNs, which may explain their lower levels of joint damage compared to men. Using blood samples and imaging from 100 patients with PsA (50 men and 50 women) from the Psoriatic Arthritis Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital, we will measure IFN levels, assess IFNresponsive gene activity, and compare these findings between men and women. We will also analyze how IFN levels relate to joint damage severity. By identifying how IFNs influence PsA and joint damage and exploring sex-based differences in immune responses, this research aims to improve understanding of the disease. Ultimately, the findings could help develop better tools for early diagnosis, patient stratification, and targeted treatment, reducing joint damage and improving outcomes for people with PsA.