INCREASED SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN (IL)-5, IL-6 AND IL-8 IN BULLOUS PEMPHIGOID

Some cytokines have been suggested to take part in the blister formati on in bullous pemphigoid (BP). However, the roles of the cytokines are only partly understood. To elucidate the involvement of cytokines in the immunological mechanisms in BP, we investigated the serum levels o f interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, soluble IL-2 rece ptor and soluble CD23 in patients with BP, and the correlation between cytokine levels and other clinical and laboratory data. Serum levels of these cytokines and soluble receptors were determined by enzyme-lin ked immunosorbent assay in 19 patients with BP and in 16 normal contro l subjects. Serum levels of IL-5 (P < 0.0001), IL-6 (P < 0.01) and IL- 8 (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in BP patients than in the cont rol subjects. Other cytokines and soluble receptor levels were not sig nificantly different. Serum levels of IL-6 (P < 0.05) and IL-8 (P < 0. 05) were significantly decreased after treatment when skin lesions dis appeared. These results suggest that serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 cou ld be indicators of disease activity of BP. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.