Serum concentration of IL-6, IL-2, TNF-α, and IFNγ in Vitiligo patients

Abstract

Background:Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder characterized by the loss of functional melanocytes from the epidermis. Although the etiology of vitiligo is unknown, over the last few years, substantial data from clinical research has greatly supported the ‘Autoimmune theory’ and this is supported by the frequent association of vitiligo with disorders that have an autoimmune origin, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves disease, type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and Addison's disease. As cytokines are important mediators of immunity, there is evidence to suggest that they play a major role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.Aim:Keeping this in view we have assayed sera for cytokine IL-6, IL-2, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IFNγ in 80 cases of vitiligo and compared it with healthy subjects, in order to find out whether they play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo or not.Materials and Methods:Serum IL-6, IL-2, TNF-α, and IFNγ were done by the indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:The mean serum IL-6 and IL-2 levels in the patient group were significantly higher when compared with those of the normal controls. The mean serum IFNγ level in patients with vitiligo was significantly lower than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in the serum level of TNF-α between vitiligo and healthy controls.Conclusion:An increase in the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-2 in vitiligo patients may play an important role in melanocytic cytotoxicity. Thus, we speculate that the cytokine production of epidermal microenvironment may be involved in vitiligo.

A Randomized Comparative Study of Oral Corticosteroid Minipulse and Low-Dose Oral Methotrexate in the Treatment of Unstable Vitiligo

“…An increase in the production of proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-2 in vitiligo patients may play an important role in melanocytic cytotoxicity [14]. …”

Quantum chemical studies on the molecular structure, spectroscopic and electronic properties of (6-Methoxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)-methyl pyrrolidine-1-carbodithioate

“…Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) mapping is very useful for understanding the sites for electrophilic attack and nucleophilic reactions as well as hydrogen bonding interactions [74]. Red-electron rich or partially negative charge regions of MEP are related to electrophilic reactivity and the blue-electron deficient or partially positive charge regions of MEP are related to nucleophilic reactivity shown in Fig.…”

DermaGene and VitmiRS: a comprehensive systems analysis of genetic dermatological disorders

“…Higher concentrations of IFNG, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, enhance T cell-melanocyte attachment in the skin initiating T cell-mediated apoptosis of melanocytes in vitiligo. On the other hand, reduced concentrations of IL-10, a potent regulator of anti-inflammatory immune responses, were observed in vitiligo patients (Singh et al 2012). An increased IL-10 concentration with an increase in the IFNG levels exhibited a positive correlation with disease duration as reported in vitiligo patients (Ala et al 2015).…”

“…Also, increased expression levels of HLA class II molecules triggers an increased production of immunostimulatory cytokines that may act as an adjuvant during the presentation of autoantigens (Cavalli et al 2016), tying together with HLA class I molecules in the development of autoimmunity in vitiligo patients. Also, alteration in the concentration of various pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10, IL-2, TNF, and IFNG has been associated with many autoimmune disorders (Singh et al 2012).…”