title: Increased levels of serum interleukin-16 in adult type atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-16 serves as a natural ligand of CD4 molecules and induces chemotaxis in CD4-expressing cells such as T cells, eosinophils, dendritic cells and monocytes. We examined the serum levels of IL-16 in patients with adult atopic dermatitis when their eruptions were aggravated and in non-atopic healthy controls, and then analysed the possible correlation between these values and the levels of several clinical markers. The serum levels of IL-16 were significantly higher in patients with atopic dermatitis than in the controls--both in exacerbation status and after conventional treatment. Multiple regression analyses showed that serum IL-16 was a predictor of the eosinophil count. Circulating IL-16 levels decreased significantly in patients with atopic dermatitis after topical treatment with corticosteroids or tacrolimus. These findings provide evidence that IL-16 plays a role in the exacerbation of chronic adult atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Norito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: Fujiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Saburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D019410:Interleukin-16; D016559:Tacrolimus