INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA, INTERLEUKIN-6, AND INTERFERON-GAMMA IN SUCTION BLISTER FLUIDS OF INVOLVED AND UNINVOLVED SKIN AND IN SERA OF PSORIATIC PATIENTS

Interleukin-1-beta (IL-1-beta), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interferon-ga mma (IFN-gamma) were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) methods in b lister fluids (BFs) obtained from both involved (ISBF) and non-involve d skin (USBF) and in sera from 14 psoriastic patients. The same determ inations were carried out in 14 sera and in 5 suction blister fluids f rom 14 normal subjects. IL-6 was always detectable in all skin fluids and in 3 psoriasis sera. IL-1-beta was measured only in 5 ISBFs and in 5 sera from the same patients. IFN-gamma was preasent in 11 ISBFs, in 5 USBFs and in 5 sera. The analysis of the levels found in the sample s shows: 1) a local production of these cytokines, 2) the presence of detectable amounts of IL-6 and IFN-gamma in USBFs, and 3) a significan t correlation between the IL-6 levels in the ISBFs and erythema score.