Correlation between serum IL-16 and atopic dermatitis

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This study aims to investigate the correlation between allergic sensitization of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and their serum interleukin (IL)-16 levels. AD patients, healthy volunteers, and patients with psoriasis (N = 80, 35, 20, respectively) were tested for serum IL-16 and total and specific IgE levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, along with eosinophil counts. Serum allergen-specific IgE levels were determined, and skin-prick testing conducted in a subgroup of 45 AD patients. Based on specific IgE levels, AD patients were categorized into non-sensitized group 1 and sensitized group 2. Furthermore, they were sorted as non-sensitized group A and sensitized group B based on skin-prick results. Next, the serum IL-16 and total IgE levels in these subgroups were determined. Compared to levels in healthy volunteers and psoriasis patients, the serum IL-16 levels in AD patients were significantly higher (P < 0.001). Additionally, total serum IgE levels were significantly correlated with serum IL-16 levels and eosinophil counts. However, no correlation was observed between serum IL-16 levels and eosinophil counts. The serum IL-16 and total IgE levels in group 2 were also significantly elevated (P < 0.001) in contrast to those in group 1. Although we did not observe any significant difference between serum IL-16 levels in groups A and B, the total serum IgE level in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.001). Thus, allergic sensitivity in AD patients correlates with total serum IgE as well as serum IL-16; the correlation with IL-6 is weaker.

Assessment of Interleukin 16 Serum Levels and Skin Expression in Psoriasis Patients in Correlation with Clinical Severity of the Disease

“…To our knowledge, there are three studies assessing IL-16 in serum of psoriasis patients. Nagy et al [18] and Zheng et al [19], who investigated the association between IL-16 and the degree of sensitization in AD, observed significantly higher levels of IL-16 in the sera of patients with AD, compared to healthy individuals and patients with chronic plaque type psoriasis. Similarly, Masuda et al [20] noticed lower IL-16 serum levels in patients with psoriasis than with AD, although significantly higher than in control subjects.…”

Differential proteomic expression profiles in vulvar lichen planus as compared to normal vulvar tissue, vulvar lichen sclerosus, or oral lichen planus: An exploratory study

“…IL16 is a chemotactic cytokine that has multiple effects on CD4+ cells 23 . It has been implicated in multiple autoimmune skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (patients have raised serum IL16 levels, higher IL16 concentration in skin tape strips and elevated tissue IL16 mRNA levels), allergic contact dermatitis, and alopecia areata (both associated with specific IL16 single nucleotide polymorphisms although the functional relevance of these single nucleotide polymorphisms is still unclear) 24–27 . Serum IL16 levels were higher in patients with systemic sclerosis than in controls, and there was more IL16 expression as detected with immunohistochemistry in skin from diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis than in skin from limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis 28 .…”

T‐cell positioning by chemokines in autoimmune skin diseases

“…TSLP is induced in epithelial cells following trauma or following exposure to microbes or inflammation and thus provides a feed-forward loop in AD/ACD (153). IL-16 is elevated in patients with AD and ACD (154)(155)(156), and IL-16 is a pleomorphic cytokine that can induce CD4+ T cell migration when secreted, but in its pro-form can regulate cell cycle control (reviewed in ( 157)). In AD, higher IL-16 levels correlated to higher degrees of sensitization (154,155).…”

“…IL-16 is elevated in patients with AD and ACD (154)(155)(156), and IL-16 is a pleomorphic cytokine that can induce CD4+ T cell migration when secreted, but in its pro-form can regulate cell cycle control (reviewed in ( 157)). In AD, higher IL-16 levels correlated to higher degrees of sensitization (154,155). It is important to note that IL-16 preferentially induces migration of Tregs (158), so it is possible that its upregulation in inflamed skin represents an attempt at restoring homeostasis.…”