title: Increased serum levels of interleukin 33 in patients with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin (IL)-33 is a new member of the IL-1 cytokine family and a promoter of T helper type 2 (Th2) inflammation. IL-33 may be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), but its relationship with disease severity, laboratory markers, and eruption types in patients with AD are unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to quantify serum IL-33 levels in patients with AD and to examine relationships with disease severity, laboratory markers, and eruption types.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum IL-33 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients with AD, chronic idiopathic urticaria, and psoriasis and in healthy control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of IL-33 were significantly higher in patients with AD compared with those in patients with urticaria and psoriasis and in healthy control subjects, and were correlated with the disease severity of AD. IL-33 levels were also significantly correlated with excoriation and xerosis scores, but not with blood eosinophilia, serum IgE, serum thymus and activation-related chemokine, and serum lactate dehydrogenase. Elevated IL-33 levels were significantly reduced after improvement of skin lesions by drug treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A limitation in the study was the small number of subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that IL-33 released from mechanically injured or barrier-disrupted skin may increase inflammation in AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: risat@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Risa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamagawa-Mineoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasutaro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuzawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Norito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katoh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C506536:IL33 protein, human; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins
keywords: atopic dermatitis; excoriation; inflammation; interleukin 33; psoriasis; urticaria; xerosis