title: Elevated levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 in hidradenitis suppurativa skin: a rationale for targeting TNF-α and IL-1β.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathogenesis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is largely unknown and the disease is difficult to treat. Patients are in high need of an effective treatment. Although it is not known whether the levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α are aberrant in HS skin, anti-TNF-α biologics are used, with variable clinical efficacy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the cytokine profile in lesional and perilesional HS skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We cultured 20 lesional and 10 normal-appearing perilesional HS skin samples, seven psoriasis and six healthy control skin samples in a transwell culture system. Two distinct cytokine bead arrays were used to measure the spectrum of inflammatory cytokines in the culture supernatant. Results from HS skin samples were compared with those of healthy and psoriasis skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and TNF-α as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were significantly elevated in HS skin. Elevated levels of these cytokines were also found in perilesional HS skin. Fold increases relative to control skin of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 in HS were 31, 5 and 34, compared with psoriasis: 4, 1 and 2, respectively. Levels of all three cytokines showed a trend towards a positive correlation with disease severity. IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and interferon-γ were hardly detectable in HS or healthy control skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows for the first time that IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 levels are elevated in HS skin. These data provide a rationale for therapies with biologics targeting cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.vanderzee@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: van der Zee
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Ruiter
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: van den Broecke
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Dik
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Laman
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Prens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10