Serum interleukin‐17 as a novel biomarker in patients with acne vulgaris

Abstract

Background Acne vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease involving pilosebaceous units. Both innate and adaptive immunity, especially the T helper 17 pathway, may contribute to the inflammatory response in acne. Objectives We aimed at evaluation of serum interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) level in patients with acne vulgaris in order to assess its role in disease pathogenesis and its clinical significance. Methods Serum IL‐17 level was measured by an ELISA technique in 80 acne vulgaris patients and 80 apparently healthy controls. Results Serum IL‐17 level was significantly higher in acne vulgaris patients than control group (P < 0.001). Moreover, it was increasing significantly with the increase in disease severity and in patients with scarring lesions (P < 0.001 each). Conclusions Serum IL‐17 is not only a biomarker of disease pathogenesis but also it could be a potential prognostic predictor for severity and scarring in acne vulgaris.

Correlation of Serum 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D and Interleukin-17 Levels with Disease Severity in Acne Vulgaris

“…[ 28 ] and Ebrahim et al . [ 7 ] lending further support to the association. However, this finding was contrary to the findings of Maulinda et al .…”

“…Some previous reports have shown raised tissue IL-17 levels in acne patients, while few recent studies from Egypt have shown increased intralesional as well as serum IL-17 levels. [ 7 12 ] The higher serum IL-17 levels are likely due to a spill-over of increased IL-17 secretion at the disease site. The high levels in serum resulting from a disease localized to a small area of skin is reflective of the quantum of this cytokine produced at one site and emphasizes its important role in the pathogenesis of acne.…”

“…[ 24 ] Conversely, the treatment of acne with retinoids has shown to improve serum vit.D levels in patients. [ 7 ] However, the findings need confirmation with larger patient numbers and in varied racial groups.…”

“…The immunological pathways involved in the pathogenesis of acne include T helper (Th) 1, Th2, and Th17 cells. [ 5 6 7 ] A recent pioneering work from the Kim lab by Agak et al . [ 8 ] on IL-17 has demonstrated that acne is a Th17-mediated disease.…”

IL-17+ mast cell/T helper cell axis in the early stages of acne

“…IL-17 and related cytokines are proinflammatory cytokines known to promote antimicrobial protective responses and barrier maintenance but also pathogenic inflammation upon chronic activation (McGeachy et al, 2019). IL-17 (Ebrahim et al, 2019) and Th17 cells (Agak et al, 2014, Kelhala et al, 2014 were reported to be associated with acne pathogenesis but their functional role in acne remains understudied.…”