T-helper 17 cytokines (interleukins 17, 21, 22, and 6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) in patients with alopecia areata: association with clinical type and severity
Background Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ‐specific autoimmune disease characterized by T‐cell infiltrates and cytokine production. T‐helper 17 (Th17) cells are crucially involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Objectives Our aim was to assess the association of Th17 with AA. We examin...
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Published in | International journal of dermatology Vol. 55; no. 6; pp. 666 - 672 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.06.2016
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
ISSN | 0011-9059 1365-4632 1365-4632 |
DOI | 10.1111/ijd.12808 |
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Summary: | Background
Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ‐specific autoimmune disease characterized by T‐cell infiltrates and cytokine production. T‐helper 17 (Th17) cells are crucially involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
Objectives
Our aim was to assess the association of Th17 with AA. We examined interleukin (IL)‐17, IL‐21, IL‐22, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) levels in the serum of patients with AA and studied their association with clinical type and severity of AA.
Subjects and methods
The serum concentrations of IL‐17, IL‐21, IL‐22, IL‐6, and TNF‐α were measured in 47 patients with AA and 40 healthy controls. The clinical type of AA was determined, and the severity of hair loss was assessed in accordance with the Alopecia Areata Investigational Assessment Guideline criteria.
Results
The serum concentrations of IL‐17, IL‐21, IL‐22, IL‐6, and TNF‐α were significantly higher in patients with AA as compared with healthy controls (mean: IL‐17 33.23 ± 11.58 vs. 4.62 ± 1.88 pg/ml; P = 0.000, IL‐21 62.10 ± 6.11 vs. 48.38 ± 3.31 pg/ml; P = 0.000, IL‐22 19.27 ± 3.36 vs. 7.09 ± 1.62 pg/ml; P = 0.000, IL‐6 17.18 ± 3.08 vs. 4.59 ± 1.66 pg/ml; P = 0.000, TNF‐α 19.94 ± 3.59 vs. 9.95 ± 2.42 pg/ml; P = 0.000, respectively). There were significant positive correlations between serum IL‐17, TNF‐α, and disease severity. There was also significant positive correlation between serum IL‐22 and duration of AA.
Conclusion
Our results showed high serum levels of Th17 cytokines among patients with AA that may suggest a functional role of these cytokines in the pathogenesis of this important skin disease. It could also provide the rationale for new treatment strategies in AA. |
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Bibliography: | ArticleID:IJD12808 ark:/67375/WNG-43N601MC-9 istex:8A0CE56B2043C4C81F299AA5E7C9256E9B98F139 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 14 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0011-9059 1365-4632 1365-4632 |
DOI: | 10.1111/ijd.12808 |