title: Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma and Pruritus: The Expression of IL-31 and its Receptors in the Skin.
abstract: Approximately 88% of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) patients are affected by pruritus that responds poorly to current antipruritic therapies. Interleukin (IL)-31, a Th2 cytokine, has been found to be increased in the serum of CTCL patients and to correlate with itch severity. This study investigated the role of IL-31 and its receptors (IL-31 receptor-alpha [IL-31RA] and OSMRβ) in the skin of CTCL patients with mild versus moderate/severe pruritus. Expression levels of IL-31, IL-31RA, and OSMRβ in the skin were measured using immunohistochemistry and correlated to pruritus severity and disease stage. In CTCL patients with moderate/severe pruritus, IL-31 was significantly elevated in the epidermis and dermal infiltrate, while IL-31RA and OSMRβ were significantly elevated only in the epidermis. Furthermore, epidermal IL-31 levels correlated to itch severity. These results show that IL-31 may play a role in CTCL pruritus by exerting indirect effects on sensory nerves through epidermal neoplastic T cells and keratinocytes to transmit itch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Temple Itch Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Leigh A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nattkemper
authors.forename: Maria-Estela
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Martinez-Escala
authors.forename: Ari B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gelman
authors.forename: Elisha M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Alain H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Rook
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guitart
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yosipovitch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D053681:Oncostatin M Receptor beta Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: C502187:IL31 protein, human; C502188:IL31RA protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; C508348:OSMR protein, human; D053681:Oncostatin M Receptor beta Subunit; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin