Background. to comparatively investigate cytokine gene expression in the skin and peripheral blood of atopic
dermatitis (AD) patients and healthy individuals.
Methods. Samples of skin and peripheral blood from 48 severe AD patients SCORAD (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis)
78,5 [57; 89], IGA (Investigators Global Assessment) 4,2 [3,9; 4,7]) at the age of 17 to 45 years and 20 healthy donors
aged from 19 to 32 years were analyzed for gene expression of cytokines using real time reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results. In the skin of patients with AD, a significant increase of the level of gene expression was observed for
interleukin IL2R (interleukin) (р=0,0023), IL5 (р=0,002), IL6 (р=0,0023), IL8 (р=0,01), IL12β (р=0,0023), IL10
(р=0,0023), IL23 (р=0,002), IL29 (р=0,0023), and TGFβ (transforming growth factor) (p=0,0023) as compared to
healthy individuals. In contrast, no difference between AD patients and healthy donors was detected with respect
to cytokine gene expression in the peripheral blood.
Conclusions. Activity of IL-2R, IL-8, IL-12β, IL-23, IL-29, and TGFβ that are markers of chronic inflammation
and Th1 immune response in severe AD and IL-5, IL-10 that are anti-inflammatory cytokines and markers of
Th2 response was predominant in the skin but not in the blood of AD patients.
