IL-36 as a new severity indicator in atopic dermatitis

Zhestkov A.V., Begimova O.O., Limareva L.V., Ilyasov P.V.

Samara State Medical University, Samara

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease, the manifestations of which depend on many factors. AD is characterized by itching, recurring relapses and rashes. AD is the most common skin disease (20-40%), observed worldwide, both in men and women. Atopic dermatitis prevalence, over the past 16 years, has increased by 2.1 times. Atopic dermatitis negatively affects the psychosocial well-being of patients. Being a common skin disease, AD is characterized by onset in infancy, persistent relapses, increased resistance to known treatments. Current scientific data indicates that cytokines play a major role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. IL-36 isoforms are key to the interaction of the innate and acquired defense systems of the body.
Aim: To estimate changes in characteristic levels of IL-36 isoforms in the blood serum of patients with atopic dermatitis, depending on the severity of symptoms.
Materials and methods: Patients with atopic dermatitis were studied. Serum levels of two isoforms IL-36 (IL-36α, IL-36γ) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis. Leukocyte and eosinophilic granulocyte counts were provided by clinical blood analysis. The data received were statistically reworked by parametric and non-parametric tests.
Results: The study included 80 patients aged 16 to 20 years with atopic dermatitis. Variations were found in levels of IL-36α and IL-36γ in patients with atopic dermatitis with different clinical manifestations: the highest (2358.9 ± 2320.1 pg/ml) level of serum IL-36γ was found in patients with localized acute AD and generalized acute AD, the lowest level of serum IL-36γ in patients with acute AD was 2058.88 ± 1307.79 pg/ml. The lowest level of serum IL-36γ was seen in patients with remission of AD (203.90 ± 181.11 pg/ml). Levels of serum IL-36α in patients with atopic dermatitis of varying severity did not show any significant variety.
Conclusions: The study demonstrates the role of IL-36 in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and a positive correlation between severity of AD symptoms and level of serum IL-36γ.