Clinical Trial Using Humira in Netherton Syndrome

Netherton syndrome (NS) is a rare (incidence is estimated at 1 in 100 000) but severe genetic skin disease characterized by scaly erythroderma at birth, abnormal hair and severe psoriasiform /atopic dermatitis-like lesions with high IgE levels and allergic manifestations. It has considerable impact on the quality of life of patients, as a result of inflammatory and painful flares, the chronicity of the lesions, severe growth retardation with definitive short stature. NS is caused by loss of function SPINK5 mutations which lead to unregulated epidermal protease activity : kallikrein 5, kallikrein 7 and elastase proteases are found overactive following loss of inhibition. Secondly, KLK5 activates PAR-2 receptors at the keratinocyte surface leading to the activation of the NF-KB pathway and the release of different pro-inflammatory cytokines such TNF-alpha . There is no specific treatment for NS. The different therapeutic attempts by Soriatane (acitretin) have worsen the skin inflammation and dryness. The use of topical calcineurin inhibitors (Tacrolimus) has sometimes improved skin inflammation but with an important systemic diffusion. The use of immune suppressive drugs in severe patients with NS followed in our labelized Centre (Cyclosporine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil) have not brought a significant and durable improvement. So NS is a very distressing genodermatosis. For these clinical and biological considerations, a benefit with anti TNF treatment could be expected and the evaluation of such treatment is justified in NS. The clinical case of an adult patient with severe NS, improved by anti-Tnf treatment has recently been published in the literature