Analysis of serum cytokine levels in patients with pemphigus vulgaris

Background and Design: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering skin disease. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of T helper 1 (Th1), T helper 2 (Th2) and T helper 17 (Th17) type cytokines in PV patients and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: The study population included 37 patients with PV and 35 healthy individuals. The patients were grouped into mild, moderate and severe disease groups according to the severity of skin and mucosal involvement. Serum interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17A and interferon (IFN)-gamma levels were assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Serum cytokine levels were compared between patients and controls and between patient subgroups. Analysis of data was done using SPSS 15.0. Results: Serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared to the control group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). IL-6 levels were found to be correlated with the severity of disease (r=0.490, p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in serum cytokine levels between the patient subgroups. Conclusion: Th2 type cytokines were found to be increased in serum of patients with pemphigus vulgaris. These results support that the Th2 cytokine response plays a major role in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris.