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Detection of elevated levels of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in blister fluid of bullous pemphigoid

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Abstract

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease with autoantibodies directed against antigens associated with hemidesmosomes of basal keratinocytes. In addition to autoantibodies and activated complement, cellular mechanisms are crucial for blister formation in this disease. Mononuclear cells, which are the first cells infiltrating BP lesions, mainly belong to CD3, CD4+ T-helper (Th) cells. Elevated concentrations of IL-2, IFNγ, TNFβ, and IL-5 have been recently demonstrated in BP blister fluid. In this study, we were interested in levels of other Thtype cytokines, including IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and GM-CSF in blister fluid of BP. Cytokines were determined by ELISA or bioassay. Levels in the blister fluid from ten BP patients were compared with those in serum samples taken at the time of blister puncture and with those in suction blister fluid of ten healthy volunteers. In blister fluid of BP, we found significantly elevated concentrations of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 relative to both concurrent serum samples and suction blister fluid from controls. No differences were detected for either IL-3 or GM-CSF. Our results suggest that IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 are released at the site of blister formation in BP.

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Author notes

  1. Detlef Zillikens

    Present address: Department of Dermatology, MFRC Room 4070, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, 53226, Milwaukee, WI, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Zürzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany

    Enno Schmidt, Boris Bastian, Eva-Bettina Bröcker & Detlef Zillikens

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Zürich, Gloriastrasse 31, CH-8091, Zürich, Switzerland

    Reinhard Dummer

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Würzburg, Klinikstrasse, D-97070, Würzburg, Germany

    Hans-Peter Tony

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  1. Enno Schmidt
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  2. Boris Bastian
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Schmidt, E., Bastian, B., Dummer, R. et al. Detection of elevated levels of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in blister fluid of bullous pemphigoid. Arch Dermatol Res 288, 353–357 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02507102

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02507102

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