Changes in the serum levels of anti-inflammatory interleukins in patients with atopic dermatitis after a course of phototherapy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The role of immunological disorders in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) is currently beyond doubt.
 AIMS: Changes in the serum levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) after UV therapy combined with standard drug treatment have been studied.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 80 patients with moderate to severe AD and 80 healthy volunteers. The patients with AD received a course of 311 nm UVB phototherapy combined with standard drug therapy. Serum IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 levels were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
 RESULTS: In the studied sample, patients with AD were found to have statistically significantly higher serum levels of IL-10 and IL-13 compared with healthy volunteers of the control group. Serum IL-10 level was 18.3 pg/ml in patients with AD and 13.2 pg/ml in those of the control group; the level of IL-13 was 15.8 pg/ml and 11.5 pg/ml, respectively; after the course of 311 nm UVB, serum IL-10 and IL-13 levels in patients with AD decreased (IL-10 by 27.8% and IL-13 by 12.5%). IL-4 values did not differ significantly in patients with AD and those in the control group, being 0.06 pg/ml and 0.05 pg/ml, respectively; after the course of phototherapy, serum IL-4 levels remained unchanged and were equal to 0.05 pg/ml.
 CONCLUSION: The results obtained confirm the assumptions about the significant role of IL-10 and IL-13 in the mechanisms of AD regulation and pathogenesis and demonstrate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of phototherapy (311 nm UVB) in patients with severe and moderate AD.