Open AccessNew insight of itch mediators and proinflammatory cytokines in epidermolysis bullosa
Author(s) -
Nguyen Hong Ha,
Shinkuma Satoru,
Hayashi Ryota,
Katsumi Tatsuya,
Nishiguchi Tomoki,
Natsuga Ken,
Fujita Yasuyuki,
Abe Riichiro
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous immunology and allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.127
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2574-4593
DOI - 10.1002/cia2.12230
Subject(s) - proinflammatory cytokine , medicine , cytokine , epidermolysis bullosa , immunology , thymic stromal lymphopoietin , inflammation , epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica , interleukin , dermatology
Objectives Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a hereditary disorder characterized by mechanical stress‐induced blistering. The presence of extracutaneous complications such as cardiomyopathy and renal disease observed in severe EB subtypes and the fact that pruritus is a common symptom across all EB subtypes indicate that EB is not only a skin fragility disease but also a systemic inflammatory disorder. Our study aims to elucidate the basis of the systemic inflammation seen in EB patients. Methods We analyzed serum samples of 20 EB patients by Luminex bead‐based cytokine assays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Results The serum levels of sIL‐2R, IL‐6, HGF, M‐CSF, SCGF‐β, IL‐8, IL‐16, IFN‐γ, MIF, MIP‐1α, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) ( p < .01, p < .01, p < .01, p < .01, p < .01, p < .05, p < .05, p < .05, p < .05, p < .05, and p = .01, respectively) were found to be significantly elevated in EB patients, whereas TNF‐β ( p < .01) was decreased. Th2 cytokines including IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 were not elevated in EB patients. In contrast, TSLP was significantly increased, and IL‐31 and oncostatin M were not statistically significant but tended to be higher in the patients than in healthy controls. Among proinflammatory cytokines such as IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α, IL‐6 was elevated in EB patients. Conclusions The imbalance of several itch mediators and proinflammatory cytokines was identified. Biologics targeting the cytokines found to be elevated in the sera of patients is considered as a beneficial treatment option for EB.