title: IL-33 circulating serum levels are increased in patients with non-segmental generalized vitiligo.
abstract: IL-33 is a recently identified cytokine, encoded by the IL-33 gene, which is a member of the IL-1 family that drives the production of T-helper-2 (Th-2)-associated cytokines. Serum levels of IL-33 have been reported to be up-regulated in various T-helper (Th)-1/Th-17-mediated diseases, such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel. To investigate whether cytokine imbalance plays a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, we performed a case-control association study by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of IL-33 in our patients. IL-33 serum levels were measured by a quantitative enzyme immunoassay technique in patients with non-segmental generalized vitiligo and compared with those of healthy controls. IL-33 serum levels in patients with vitiligo were significantly increased than those in healthy controls. There was a positive correlation of IL-33 serum levels with extension of vitiligo and disease activity. This study suggests a possible systemic role of IL-33 in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Inhibiting IL-33 activity might be a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory disease, like vitiligo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. mario.vaccaro@unime.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences, and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mannucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences, and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calapai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences, and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spatari
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barbuzza
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Serafinella P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cannavò
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000067596:Interleukin-33 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C506536:IL33 protein, human; D000067596:Interleukin-33
keywords: Autoimmune inflammatory disease; Cytokines; IL-33; Th1; Th2; Vitiligo