Lack of expression of interleukin 8 and RANTES in autoimmune bullous skin diseases

Background: In autoimmune bullous skin diseases, accumulation of neutrophil s and/or eosinophils in the affected skin represents a characteristic featu re. So far, however, the induction of this granulocyte infiltration has not been elucidated. Objective: Regarding their biological effects, the chemok ines interleukin 8 (IL-8) and RANTES (regulated upon activation normal T ly mphocyte expressed and secreted) could play a role in this granulocyte accu mulation. Methods: Immunohistochemical examination of lesional skin from pa tients with bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis and lin ear IgA disease was performed using a set of different antibodies against I L-8 and RANTES. Additionally, blister fluids were screened for soluble RANT ES peptide using an ELISA. Results: No difference in chemokine expression w as found in lesions of autoimmune bullous diseases compared to normal skin. Conclusion: In contrast to chronic inflammatory diseases like psoriasis an d eczema, where keratinocyte IL-8 immunoreactivity was found to differ from normal skin, keratinocyte immunoreactivity is noe altered in autoimmune bu llous diseases.