title: The Role of Cytokines, Chemokines, and Growth Factors in the Pathogenesis of Pityriasis Rosea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an exanthematous disease related to human herpesvirus- (HHV-) 6/7 reactivation. The network of mediators involved in recruiting the infiltrating inflammatory cells has never been studied. Object. To investigate the levels of serum cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines in PR and healthy controls in order to elucidate the PR pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interleukin- (IL-) 1, IL-6, IL-17, interferon- (IFN-) γ, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and chemokines, CXCL8 (IL-8) and CXCL10 (IP-10), were measured simultaneously by a multiplex assay in early acute PR patients' sera and healthy controls. Subsequently, sera from PR patients were analysed at 3 different times (0, 15, and 30 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum levels of IL-17, IFN-γ, VEGF, and IP-10 resulted to be upregulated in PR patients compared to controls. IL-17 has a key role in host defense against pathogens stimulating the release of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines. IFN-γ has a direct antiviral activity promoting NK cells and virus specific T cells cytotoxicity. VEGF stimulates vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. IP-10 can induce chemotaxis, apoptosis, cell growth, and angiogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that these inflammatory mediators may modulate PR pathogenesis in synergistic manner.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciccarese
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore, 48, 20900 Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Broccolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST and University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghio
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST and University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Contini
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Hajdhica
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thanasi
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parodi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017515:Pityriasis Rosea / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor