title: Medium-dose ultraviolet A1 phototherapy improves SCORAD index and increases mRNA expression of interleukin-4 without direct effect on human β defensin-1, interleukin-10, and interleukin-31.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV)A1 in flares of atopic dermatitis (AD) is thought to influence the expression of cytokines involved in its pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to investigate whether mRNA expression of human β defensin-1 (hβD-1) correlates with that of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-31 in skin lesions in AD before and after UVA1 phototherapy, to determine whether UVA1 decreases the expression of the aforementioned mediators, and to confirm whether changes in mRNA expression correspond with the clinical efficacy of UVA1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with AD underwent medium-dose UVA1 phototherapy. Before and after UVA1, biopsies from acute skin lesions were studied using reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of mRNA hβD-1 correlated with those of IL-10 and IL-31, levels of IL-4 mRNA correlated with those of IL-10 and IL-31, and IL-10 expression correlated with that of IL-31, both before and after UVA1. Phototherapy with UVA1 improved SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) values, decreased pruritus, and increased expression of IL-4. After UVA1, no difference was found in the mRNA expression of other molecules. The SCORAD index did not correlate with the expression of any examined mRNA either before or after UVA1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hβD-1, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-31 are expressed in acute skin lesions in AD, and their levels correlate with each other. UVA1 improves SCORAD and pruritus and increases the expression of IL-4 without direct effect on other molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogaczewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malinowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences, University of Social Sciences, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sysa-Jedrzejowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wozniacka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D055815:Young Adult; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; C488159:Il31ra protein, mouse; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D023083:beta-Defensins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4