Interleukin-31 Levels Research Articles

Interleukin-31 and Chronic Pruritus of Unknown Origin.

Chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO) is a refractory condition. The expression of Interleukin-31 (IL-31), a major pruritogenic cytokine, in CPUO patients has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the potential association of IL-31 with CPUO. This was a cross-sectional, analytical study. Patients diagnosed with CPUO and healthy subjects were included at a ratio of 1:2. Serum IL-31 levels were measured in both groups and compared. There were 10 CPUO and 20 healthy subjects who participated in this study. The median IL-31 level in the CPUO group was significantly higher than in the healthy group (127.3 vs 34.4 pg/mL; P < .001). The presence of CPUO was independently associated with IL-31 levels with a coefficient of 89.678 (P < .001). The serum IL-31 cutoff point for CPUO was 56.8 pg/mL, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of 100%. Chronic pruritus of unknown origin was significantly and independently associated with higher IL-31 levels. Further clinical trials of IL-31-related treatment may be justified in CPUO patients.

Evaluation of the role of interleukin-31 in inflammatory acne vulgaris: a case–control study

Background Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory disease with multifactorial etiology and a significant psychological disability. Inflammation is a fundamental process in the early and late stage of acne. Physical symptoms of AV include soreness, itching, and pain. Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a novel T-helper-lymphocyte-derived cytokine with an established role in inducing inflammation and pruritus.Objective Evaluation of the role of IL-31in inflammatory AV and its correlation to itching.Patients and methods Forty patients with AV as well as 40 healthy controls were included. History taking and clinical examination of patients to assess the severity of AV were done and the grade of itching of the lesions was recorded. Biopsy from an acne lesion and a serum sample were taken. For controls, a biopsy from normal skin as well as a serum sample was taken for comparison. Tissue and serum levels of IL-31 were measured by the sandwich ELISA technique.Results The mean tissue and serum levels of IL-31 were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P<0.001). The tissue level of IL-31 was significantly higher in patients with severe AV in comparison with its levels in moderate AV (P=0.001). A statistically significant correlation was found between the Cardiff Acne Disability Index and levels of IL-31 in both tissue (P=0.001) and serum (P=0.049).Conclusion IL-31 potentially plays a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory AV. Larger scale studies are required to verify this finding.

Study of serum level of interleukin-31 in patients with uremic pruritus

Objective The aim was to assess the role of interleukin-31 (IL-31) in the pathogenesis of uremic pruritus (UP) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with and without hemodialysis and its relation to severity of pruritus. Background UP is a very distressing symptom in patients with CKD, with unclear etiopathogenesis. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 88 patients with CKD. These patients were divided into four groups: group 1 included 22 patients with CKD having pruritus of different degrees, group 2 included 22 patients with CKD not having pruritus (control group), group 3 included 22 patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis having pruritus of different degrees, and group 4 included 22 patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis not having pruritus (control group). Itch intensity was scored as mild, moderate, and severe using numerical rating itch scale, and serum levels of IL-31 was evaluated. Results The results showed that IL-31 serum level was higher in patients with UP in group 1 compared with the controls in group 2; however, it was not statistically significant. Moreover, IL-31 serum level was higher in patients with UP in group 3 compared with controls in group 4; however, it was not statistically significant. The result also showed no significant difference in IL-31 levels according to severity of UP. Conclusion Future studies are need with larger sample sizes to understand the contribution of IL-31 in the pathogenesis of UP.

What's new in atopic eczema? An analysis of systematic reviews published in 2017. Part 2: epidemiology, aetiology and risk factors.

This article forms part of a series of annual updates that summarizes the evidence base for atopic eczema (AE). It provides a summary of key findings from 28 systematic reviews that were published or indexed during 2017, and focuses on the epidemiology, aetiology and risk factors of AE. AE is the largest single contributor to morbidity associated with skin disease worldwide, once mortality has been excluded. There is a high prevalence of sleep disturbance in individuals with AE and they take more sick leave than controls. While there is a lack of skin bacterial diversity in patients with AE, there is a relative abundance of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Compared with controls, affected individuals more often show an IgE response to S. aureus antigens and have higher serum interleukin-31 levels. Early antibiotic exposure, environmental pollutants, maternal atopy and food allergy are associated with an increased risk of AE, and very preterm birth is associated with decreased risk. Patients with AE have a reduced risk of meningioma, but are more likely to develop attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder compared with controls. Patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis are significantly more likely than unaffected individuals to have AE. There is no significant overall association between AE and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), and in children referred for patch testing, ACD was more common in those without AE. Hand eczema is more prevalent in patients with AE. There is no association between AE and Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke or myocardial infarction.

403 Increased Expression of Oncostatin M Receptor β in Chronic Pruritic Diseases

Chronic Pruritus (CP), a primary symptom in dermatological conditions, is often intractable and strongly impacts patient quality of life. Expression of CP-related biomarkers, Oncostatin M receptor β (OSMRβ) and Interleukin-31 (IL-31), were assessed in these CP-presenting diseases: Chronic Idiopathic Pruritus (CIP), Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU), Lichen Planus (LP), and Lichen Simplex Chronicus (LSC) and correlated with clinical features. mRNA and protein expression from archived skin samples from disease and non-pruritic control patients were analyzed by RNAscope and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods for IL-31 and OSMRβ expression levels. Level of pruritus at time of biopsy was determined by medical chart analysis. Pruritus was reported using a verbal rating scale. Mean OSMRβ mRNA (RNAScope) levels of all disease samples tested (n=10-12 per cohort) were approximately 2-3-fold higher (p≤0.02) in epidermis, compared to normal controls (n=8). Mean OSMRβ protein levels (IHC) were approximately 2-3-fold higher (p<0.01) in epidermis of CIU and LP samples, and mean IL-31 protein levels were approximately 3-fold higher (p=0.02) in epidermis of LP samples, as compared to normal controls (n=10 per cohort). Higher IL-31 mRNA levels correlated with itch severity in LP. Higher OSMRβ mRNA levels correlated with itch severity in LP, LSC and CIU. These results show OSMRβ mRNA is upregulated in biopsies from CIP, CIU, LP and LSC patient skin and at the protein level for CIU and LP, advancing our understanding of the molecules potentially implicated in pruritic disease pathologies. Targeting IL-31 and OSMRβ axes with pharmacological intervention in CP-presenting diseases may provide therapeutic benefits to patients. KPL-716, an antibody targeting OSMRβ, is in Phase 2 clinical trial for treatment of pruritus in CIP, CIU, LP and LSC (NCT03858634).

Correlation between Serum Interleukin-31 Level and the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis in Children

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, characterized by intense itch, typical localization and a specific image of skin lesions. Pathogenesis of pruritus in AD is not fully understood, but recent studies emphasize the role of interleukin-31 (IL-31). This relatively recently described cytokine is considered to be a potential mediator inducing pruritus in AD. Aim of the Work: was to assess the correlation of serum IL-31 level and the disease severity in children with AD. Patients and Methods: a case control study. Sera were obtained from 50 AD children and 30 healthy volunteers. IL-31 levels were measured using ELISA with standard kits from EIAab R&D Systems. Serum IL-31 levels were correlated with AD disease activity. Disease severity in children with AD was assessed using the SCORAD (Severity scoringof atopic dermatitis) index. Results: Serum IL-31 level was significantly higher in AD children (Mean ± SD 99.73 ± 75.93) than in healthy children (Mean ± SD 54.01 ± 57.36), (p-value = 0.019). Serum IL-31 levels correlated positively with the calculated severity score (SCORAD index), (rs = 0.480, p- value <0.001) Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the importance of IL-31 in AD pathophysiology. Serum IL-31 level is an objective reliable marker of AD severity in children. It may represent a novel target for antipruritic drug development.

Correlation between Serum Interleukin-31 Level and the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis in Children

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, characterized by intense itch, typical localization and a specific image of skin lesions. Pathogenesis of pruritus in AD is not fully understood, but recent studies emphasize the role of interleukin-31 (IL-31). This relatively recently described cytokine is considered to be a potential mediator inducing pruritus in AD. Aim of the Work: was to assess the correlation of serum IL-31 level and the disease severity in children with AD. Patients and Methods: a case control study. Sera were obtained from 50 AD children and 30 healthy volunteers. IL-31 levels were measured using ELISA with standard kits from EIAab R&D Systems. Serum IL-31 levels were correlated with AD disease activity. Disease severity in children with AD was assessed using the SCORAD (Severity scoringof atopic dermatitis) index. Results: Serum IL-31 level was significantly higher in AD children (Mean ± SD 99.73 ± 75.93) than in healthy children (Mean ± SD 54.01 ± 57.36), (p-value = 0.019). Serum IL-31 levels correlated positively with the calculated severity score (SCORAD index), (rs = 0.480, p- value <0.001) Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the importance of IL-31 in AD pathophysiology. Serum IL-31 level is an objective reliable marker of AD severity in children. It may represent a novel target for antipruritic drug development.

PREDICTIVE VALUE OF SERUM INTERLEUKIN 31 IN DIAGNOSIS OF OSTEOPOROSIS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMAN: A NOVEL CASE–CONTROL STUDY FROM IRAQ

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the predictive value of serum level of interleukin 31 (IL31) in diagnosis of osteoporosis (OP) in postmenopausal women.Methods: This case–control study was conducted on 80 individuals, 50 of them with postmenopausal OP diagnosed using dual X-ray absorptiometry study, and the other 30 were healthy postmenopausal female controls. Serum level of IL31 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique in both groups.Results: The mean age of patients was 65.3±4.8 years and controls was 61.1±3.9 years. Mean serum IL31 level was significantly higher among postmenopausal patients with OP compared to healthy controls (83.5±34.2 vs. 34.9±7.3ng/ml, p&lt;0.05). The optimum cutoff value of serum IL31 that can differentiate between patients with OP in postmenopausal women from controls was &gt;44.51 ng/ml with perfect positive predictive value (PPV) (100%), very high accuracy of 92.5%, 88% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) 83.3%.Conclusions: Serum IL31 level was significantly higher in postmenopausal osteoporotic women compared to healthy controls. It was a valid measure with high accuracy and perfect PPV and specificity, high sensitivity, and NPV. It can be used to confirm the diagnosis of OP in postmenopausal women.

Nemolizumab and Atopic Dermatitis: the Interaction Between Interleukin-31 and Interleukin-31 Receptor as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Pruritus in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic eczematous skin disease associated with intense pruritus and skin barrier dysfunction. Interleukin-31 (IL-31), which is preferentially produced by T helper 2 (Th2) cells, has attracted attention as a pruritogen in patients with AD. To understand the mechanism of action, production, and roles of IL-31, we reviewed recent advances of the knowledge of IL-31, its receptor as well as results of recent clinical trials targeting IL-31/IL-31R signaling for pruritus in patients with AD. Activation of many cytokine pathways has been reported in AD, suggesting potential therapeutic targets with novel biologics. Most notably, the lesional skin of AD exhibits Th2-deviated immune reactions. Recently reported striking efficacy of dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-4 receptor α subunit reconfirms the importance of Th2-deviated immune reactions in the pathogenesis of AD. A systemic and local administration of IL-31 induces scratching behavior in mice, dogs, and monkeys. In addition, serum levels of IL-31 have been correlated with severity of AD. Finally, an anti-interleukin (IL)-31 receptor α antibody (nemolizumab) has been shown to significantly alleviate pruritus in AD patients. The interaction between IL-31 and IL-31R has a role not only in the induction of intense pruritus, but also in the regulation of inflammation and barrier function in AD. In clinical trials, nemolizumab significantly improved pruritus in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Targeting the IL-31/IL-31R interaction might be a promising therapeutic target to improve the burdensome pruritus experienced by patients with AD.

Interleukin-31, Interleukin-31RA, and OSMR Expression Levels in Post-burn Hypertrophic Scars.

BackgroundAlthough several studies have shown the role of interleukin-31 (IL-31) and its receptors in inducing pruritus in certain skin disorders, knowledge of its role in post-burn hypertrophic scars is insufficient. Therefore, the histopathological expression levels of IL-31, IL-31 receptor alpha (IL-31RA), and oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) in post-burn hypertrophic scar tissues were investigated and compared with normal tissue expression levels.MethodsSamples of hypertrophic scar tissue were obtained from 20 burn patients through punch biopsy. Normal samples were obtained from areas adjacent to the burn injury site of the same patients. Samples were placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, embedded in paraplast, and processed into serial 5-μm sections. Immunohistochemistry results were semi-quantitatively evaluated for IL-31, IL-31RA, and OSMR. By hematoxylin and eosin staining, epidermal and dermal thickness were assessed with a microscope and digital camera. Intensities were rated on a scale of 1 to 4.ResultsPercentages for IL-31, IL-31RA, and OSMR in the epidermal basal layer cell cytoplasm were significantly greater in the burn scar tissue compared to normal skin, as well as the dermal and epidermal thickness (p < .05). There was a significant difference in IL-31 epidermal basal layer intensity in burn scar tissue compared to normal skin (p < .05). Besides the OSMR basal layer intensity, IL-31 and IL-31RA intensities between the burn scar and normal tissues were not significant. However, correlations were significant, indicating that the greater the infiltration percentage, the higher the intensity (p < .05).ConclusionsIL-31, IL-31RA, and OSMR expression levels are increased in hypertrophic scars compared with normal tissue.

Serum interleukin-31 level and pruritus in atopic dermatitis: A Meta-analysis.

To investigate associations of interleukin-31 (IL-31) and pruritus in atopic dermatitis (AD) with Meta-analysis. Methods: Materials were extracted from the citations listed in the following databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science and Cochrane. Key search terms included: atopic dermatitis, pruritus, and IL-31. The Meta-analysis was used to analyze the correlation between pruritws in AD and IL-31 expression level. Results: The Meta-analysis showed that serum IL-31 levels were higher in AD patients than those in the healthy controls. The levels of IL-31 were higher in severe AD patients than those in the mild and moderate AD patients. Moreover, a positive correlation between serum IL-31 levels and severity of pruritus was identified. Conclusion: Increased serum levels of IL-31 generally exist in the AD patients, and it may accelerate the pruritus in the AD patients.

Relationship of serum vitamin D and interleukin-31 levels to allergic or nonallergic rhinitis in children

Purpose: Serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25[OH] D) and interleukin-31 (IL-31) are related to atopic dermatitis, but their rela tionship with allergic rhinitis is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of serum IL-31 and 25 (OH) D between the allergic rhinitis (AR), nonallergic rhinitis (NAR), and control groups and to investigate the relationship between IL-31 and 25 (OH) D. Methods: We recruited 59 children with only rhinitis and 33 controls without any allergic diseases. Serum IL-31 and 25(OH) D levels were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The pa tients were considered to have atopic sensitization if the levels of serum specific IgE to inhalant allergens as assessed using immu noCAP were ≥0.35 IU/mL or if they tested positive for one or more allergens by the skin prick test. Results: Of children with rhinitis, 25 had nonatopy (NAR), and 34 children had atopy (AR). Serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly lower in the rhinitis group than in the control group, while there was no significant difference serum 25(OH) D levels between the AR and NAR groups. Children with rhinitis demonstrated higher serum IL-31 levels than controls; however, there was no difference in serum IL-31 levels between the AR and NAR groups. Serum 25(OH) D levels were inversely correlated with serum IL-31 levels and blood eosinophil counts. On the other hand, serum 25(OH) D levels were not correlated with total serum IgE levels. Conclusion: Serum 25(OH) D and IL-31 may play a role in the pathogenesis of rhinitis via mechanisms other than IgE-related path way. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2018;6:41-46)

Interleukin-31 Polymorphisms and Serum IL-31 Level in Patients with Mastocytosis: Correlation with Clinical Presen­tation and Pruritus

Data on interleukin-31 (IL-31) involvement in the patho-genesis of mastocytosis, and its impact on pruritus development in the disease, are limited. The aim of this study was to analyse distinct IL-31 gene polymorphisms in 127 patients (age 0.5-76 years) with mastocytosis and their correlation with clinical presentation, pruritus and serum IL-31 levels. In patients with mastocytosis, the frequency of IL-31 IVS2+12AA genotype and IVS2+12A allele was higher than in control subjects and they were linked to an increased risk of development of mastocytosis. In adult patients, but not in children, -2057AA genotype was also associated with an increased risk of occurrence of mastocytosis. Pruritus affected 83.3% of 78 adult patients with mastocytosis, and a positive correlation between serum IL-31 levels and pruritus was found in these patients. In conclusion, distinct polymorphic variants of the IL-31 gene may be involved in the patho-genesis of mastocytosis, and IL-31 may be involved in the induction of pruritus in patients with mastocytosis.

The association of interleukin-31 polymorphisms with interleukin-31 serum levels and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is the most recently discovered member of the gp130/IL-6 cytokine family which is produced mainly by activated Th2 cells. IL-31 was proved to play a crucial role in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, cutaneous T cell lymphomas, Kawasaki disease and allergic rhinitis. Previous studies have identified that IL-31 could significantly induce the release of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6. Moreover, a large number of studies have shown that IL-6 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, up to date, no study to data was reported on the relationship between IL-31 and SLE. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the association between IL-31 polymorphisms and its serum levels with the risk of SLE in a Chinese population. We analyzed two single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-31 gene rs7977932 C/G and rs4758680 G/T in 190 patients with SLE and 250 age- and sex-matched controls, using polymerase chain reaction-single base extension and DNA sequencing methods. Soluble IL-31 (sIL-31) levels were measured by ELISA. From this study, we found that there were significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-31 gene rs7977932 C/G polymorphism between the group of patients with SLE and the control group (P<0.05). sIL-31 levels were increased in patients with SLE compared with controls (P<0.01). Moreover, genotypes carrying the IL-31 rs7977932 G variant allele were associated with increased IL-31 levels compared to the homozygous wild-type genotype in patients with SLE. The rs7977932 C/G polymorphism of IL-31 gene and its sIL-31 levels were associated with SLE in the Chinese population. Our data suggest that IL-31 gene may play a role in the development of SLE.

Determination of Interleukin 31 (IL-31) serum levels according to severity of allergic rhinitis

Objective: This study was conducted to compare IL-31 serum levels in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients and normal controls as well as according to severity of AR. Materials and Methods: The subjects, normal controls and AR patients, were defined by history taking. Blood were collected from subjects and patients with AR. Serum was centrifuged and analyzed for IL-31 using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. 70 samples of normal controls and 70 samples of AR were collected respectively. Results and Discussion: The result showed that IL-31 serum level was higher in allergic rhinitis patients, mean (SD) 4107.70 (16961.51) as compared with normal controls 2195.55 (9016.57), however it was not statistically significance with p-value, 0.406 by using independent-T test. The result also showed no significant difference of IL-31 levels according to severity of AR with p-value, 0.245 by using Mann-Whitney test. Conclusions: IL-31 serum level was higher in AR patients; however it was not statistically significant. There was also no significant difference of IL-31 levels between the severity of AR. Further study which obtain the larger sample sizes should be done to get better findings.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.14(4) 2015 p.359-362

Increased levels of interleukin 31 (IL-31) in osteoporosis.

BackgroundSeveral inflammatory cytokines play a key part in the induction of osteoporosis. Until now, involvement of the Th2 cytokine interleukin-31 (IL-31) in osteoporosis hadn’t yet been studied. IL-31 is a proinflammatory cytokine mediating multiple immune functions, whose involvement in a wide range of diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases and cutaneous lymphomas, is now emerging. Given the important role of IL-31 in inflammation, we measured its serum levels in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients.Methods and resultsIn fifty-six postmenopausal females with osteoporosis and 26 healthy controls, bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were performed by using calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) technique, confirmed at the lumbar spine and hip by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Both patients and controls were divided according to age (less or more than 65 years) and disease severity (T-score levels and presence of fractures). Serum IL-31 levels were measured by ELISA technique. Osteoporotic patients exhibited elevated levels of serum IL-31 compared with healthy controls (43.12 ± 6.97 vs 29.58 ± 6.09 pg/ml; p < 0.049). IL-31 expression was higher in over 65 years old patients compared to age-matched controls (45 ± 11.05 vs. 17.92 ± 5.92; p < 0.01), whereas in younger subjects no statistically significant differences were detected between patients and controls (37.91 ± 6.9 vs 32.08 ± 8.2). No statistically significant differences were found between IL-31 levels in patients affected by mild (T-score > -3) compared to severe (T-score < -3) osteoporosis (59.17 ± 9.22 vs 37.91 ± 10.52), neither between fractured and unfractured osteoporotic women (33.75 ± 9.16 vs 51.25 ± 8.9).ConclusionsWe showed for the first time an increase of IL-31 serum levels in postmenopausal women with decreased BMD. Although they did not reflect the severity of osteoporosis and/or the presence of fractures, they clearly correlated with age, as reflected by the higher levels of this cytokine in aged patients.

Malignancy-associated pruritus.

Malignancy-associated pruritus can be the result of a neoplasm's local effect on tissue or due to the systemic reaction to malignancy. A systemic reaction to malignancy has been termed 'paraneoplastic itch' and can be the first sign of an underlying malignancy. Paraneoplastic itch is most commonly caused by lymphoproliferative malignancies, and severity of itch correlates with stage of disease in Hodgkin's lymphoma and polycythemia vera. Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of malignancy-associated pruritus, and recent data indicate that pruritus is associated with more than one-third of non-melanoma skin cancers. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), particularly more advanced stages, cause intractable pruritus and recent investigations into the pathophysiology of CTCL-associated itch have implicated cyotokine interleukin-31 as a putative mediator. Treatments that reduce itch in CTCL patients, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), Mogamulizumab, a novel monoclonal antibody against chemokine receptor type-4, and oral corticosteroids, have demonstrated a correlation between their anti-pruritic effect and reduced serum levels of interleukin-31.

Association of mastocytosis with interleukin 31 gene polymorphism

Mastocytosis is a rare disease characterized by activating KIT mutations and clonal expansion of mast cells (MCs) in tissues, particularly in skin and bone marrow. Symptoms of mastocytosis always correlate with the extent of MC infiltration and include urticaria pigmentosa, anaphylaxis, flushing, headache, diarrhea, osteoporosis and pruritus. Interleukin 31 (IL-31) is a new recently identified pruritogenic factor mainly produced by activated T cells, but also by mast cells. Recently published data indicated that IL-31 level is increased in adult patients with mastocytosis. The aim of our study is to compare the frequency of -1066 G/A, -2057 G/A and IVS2+12 polymorphisms of IL-31 gene which upregulate gene transcription in mastocytosis patients and healthy control groups. Using ARMS-PCR methods we analyze the polymorphisms of IL-31 gene in 240 mastocytosis patients and 110 healthy controls. We have found that in comparison to the control mastocytosis patients have more frequently AA genotype in all three analyzed polymorphisms: -1066 AA: 17,7% vs 8,2%, p=0,02; -2057 AA: 7,5% vs 1,1%, p=0,024, IVS2+12 AA 63,6 vs 40%, p=0,007. The presence of -2057 AA genotype more than 7x increase the risk of mastocytosis: OR = 7,38 (0,97-56.09) p = 0,05. In conclusion, results of our study indicate that mastocytosis could be associated with IL-31 gene polymorphisms

Improved pruritus correlates with lower levels of IL-31 in CTCL patients under different therapeutic modalities

Pruritus is one of the cardinal symptoms found in patients with leukemic cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). The nature of the pruritus experienced by CTCL patients is complex, involving different pathways and cell mediators, thus making it poorly responsive to conventional anti-itch therapies. Recent reports highlight the role of interleukin 31 (IL-31) as a novel cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of pruritus in atopic dermatitis and CTCL. Here we provide both in vivo and in vitro evidence suggesting that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors may mitigate itch through lowering of levels of IL-31-expressing T cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that chemokine receptor type-4 (CCR4)-bearing T cells are a main source of IL-31 in CTCL, and that neutralizing the IL-31 pathway through targeting of the CCR4-expressing T cells may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for symptomatic relief in CTCL.

Relationship between serum interleukin-31/25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the severity of atopic dermatitis in children

Purpose: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Vitamin D and interleukin-31 (IL-31) are known to be related to the pathogenesis of AD with pruritus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and IL-31 and the disease severity of AD in children with AD. Methods: We recruited 160 children with AD and 42 controls. We used the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index to measure the severity of AD. Serum IL-31 and 25(OH)D levels were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Serum levels of total IgE, specific IgE to common allergens and peripheral blood total eosinophil count were carried out in children with AD. Results: Serum IL-31 level was significantly higher in AD group compared to control group and 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in AD group than control group. Serum IL-31 level showed the highest level in severe AD group followed by moderate and mild AD group, whilst serum 25(OH)D level was the lowest in severe AD group compared to moderate and mild AD group. There was no difference in serum IL-31 level between AD group and nonatopic dermatitis group. IL-31 level was positively correlated with subjective SCORAD index indicating pruritus in children with AD, and 25(OH)D was inversely correlated with SCORAD index. Conclusion: IL-31 and vitamin D may be related to the pathogenesis of AD, especially with regard to the pruritus. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2015;3:396-401)