Datz E, et al. - In a prospective, mono-centric, one-armed study, investigators examined the potential systemic effects of UV phototherapy on cytokine profiles in blood. They evaluated the serum levels of the melanoma tumor marker "melanoma inhibitory activity" (MIA), Il-1α, Il-4, Il-6, Il-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ of 115 individuals with various skin diseases before and 24-48 hours as well as 2-4 weeks after the first phototherapy with PUVA (psoralen and ultraviolet A), UVA or UVB, or both. They noted estimated marginal means of MIA levels 6.05 ng/mL before the first treatment. A significant increased to 6.79 ng/mL in estimated marginal means of MIA 2-4 weeks after the first phototherapy was reported. They found a significantly more decrease in TNF-α levels 2-4 weeks after the first treatment in subjects with psoriasis who had responded well to phototherapy as compared to cases unresponsive to therapy.