title: Detection of elevated levels of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in blister fluid of bullous pemphigoid.
abstract: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease with autoantibodies directed against antigens associated with hemidesmosomes of basal keratinocytes. In addition to autoantibodies and activated complement, cellular mechanisms are crucial for blister formation in this disease. Mononuclear cells, which are the first cells infiltrating BP lesions, mainly belong to CD3, CD4+ T-helper (Th) cells. Elevated concentrations of IL-2, IFN gamma, TNF beta, and IL-5 have been recently demonstrated in BP blister fluid. In this study, we were interested in levels of other Th-type cytokines, including IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and GM-CSF in blister fluid of BP. Cytokines were determined by ELISA or bioassay. Levels in the blister fluid from ten BP patients were compared with those in serum samples taken at the time of blister puncture and with those in suction blister fluid of ten healthy volunteers. In blister fluid of BP, we found significantly elevated concentrations of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 relative to both concurrent serum samples and suction blister fluid from controls. No differences were detected for either IL-3 or GM-CSF. Our results suggest that IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 are released at the site of blister formation in BP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bastian
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dummer
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Tony
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bröcker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zillikens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001768:Blister / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013396:Suction
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4