The relationship between serum levels of total IgE, IL-18, IL-12, IFN-gamma and disease severity in children with atopic dermatitis.

Murat Aral,Ummugulsum Kastal,Hasan Cetin Ekerbicer,Sumeyra Alkis Kocturk,Ozer Arican,Mustafa Gul,Sezai Sasmaz

doi:10.1155/mi/2006/73098

Murat Aral, Ummugulsum Kastal + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/mi/2006/73098

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Abstract

Studies about the role of cytokines on the immunopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) are generally based on in vitro observations and this role has not been completely clarified yet. Serum levels of total IgE, IL-18, IL-12, IFN-γ and the relationship between these parameters and disease severity, determined using the SCORAD index, in a group of atopic patients were investigated in this study. Serum levels of total IgE were measured by the nephelometric method and serum levels of IL-18, IL-12/p40 and IFN-γ were measured by ELISA method. Serum levels of total IgE and IL-18 were found significantly higher in study group than in controls (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference between patients and controls in respect of serum levels of IL-12/p40 (P = .227). A statistically significant relationship between SCORAD values and serum levels of total IgE (P < .001), IL-18 (P < .001), and IL-12/p40 (P < .001) was determined. These results show that serum levels of IL-18 can be a sensitive parameter that importantly correlates with clinical severity of AD, can play a role in the immunopathogenesis of AD, and furthermore may be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease in addition to other parameters.

Highlights

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a frequently encountered, chronic, severely itchy, eczematous, and inflammatory skin disease that can seriously affect health quality
Serum IgE level is often increased in allergic diseases
Increased IgE level, basophile and mast cell degranulations, and released mediators are important for AD but these are secondary features with cAMP function disorders

Summary

Introduction

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a frequently encountered, chronic, severely itchy, eczematous, and inflammatory skin disease that can seriously affect health quality. Encounter frequency of this disease is increasing gradually and the latest data about the immunopathogenesis of the disease have led to the development of new effective treatment models [1,2,3]. It is determined in recent times that IgE causes IL-1, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, GM-CSF, and TNF-α to be synthesized and released by binding to basophils and mast cells. These cytokines play an important role in the late phase of allergic response [5]. Most of the lymphocytes in the skin with AD secrete Th2 cytokines and IL-10, IL-4, IL-13 [7]

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