DETECTION OF ELEVATED LEVELS OF IL-4, IL-6, AND IL-10 IN BLISTER FLUID OF BULLOUS PEMPHIGOID

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disea se with autoantibodies directed against antigens associated with hemid esmosomes of basal keratinocytes. In addition to autoantibodies and ac tivated complement, cellular mechanisms are crucial for blister format ion in this disease. Mononuclear cells, which are the first cells infi ltrating BP lesions, mainly belong to CD3, CD4(+) T-helper (Th) cells. Elevated concentrations of IL-2, IFN gamma, TNF beta, and IL-5 have b een recently demonstrated in BP blister fluid, In this study, we were interested in levels of other Th-type cytokines, including IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and GM-CSF in blister fluid of BP. Cytokines were determ ined by ELISA or bioassay. Levels in the blister fluid from ten BP pat ients were compared with those in serum samples taken at the time of b lister puncture and with those in suction blister fluid of ten healthy volunteers. In blister fluid of BP, we found significantly elevated c oncentrations of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 relative to both concurrent ser um samples and suction blister fluid from controls. No differences wer e detected for either IL-3 or GM-CSF. Our results suggest that IL-4, I L-6, and IL-10 are released at the site of blister formation in BP.