Quantification of Apoptotic Bodies and Correlation of TNF-α & IL-2 Levels with Severity of Pemphigus Vulgaris

Abstract

Aim: To quantify the presence of apoptotic bodies in the blood samples of pemphigus vulgaris cases and to correlate levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-2 with the disease severity. Materials and Methods: Sera were collected from eight subjects including four patients with pemphigus vulgaris and four from healthy volunteers taken as controls. Patients are divided into two groups, one on regular steroid therapy (1–2 mg per kg per day) for at least 2 weeks, other from untreated patients. The levels of apoptotic bodies were evaluated using flow cytometry and levels of IL-2 and TNF-α were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean value of annexin V, propidium iodide, and a combination of both stained cells showed 3.962%, 7.375%, and 8.988%. The mean value of IL-2 and TNF-α are 4.568 and 56.175 pg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The levels of apoptotic cells increased with the disease progression and also differed between the patients with and without steroidal therapy. The study also shows the increase in levels of TNF-α with increased severity of the disease and also among patients without treatment which in turn correlated with the levels of apoptotic cells. Levels of IL-2 did not show much difference in the levels among the healthy controls and the diseased.