Overexpression of Interleukin-23 and Interleukin-17 in the Lesion of Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

IL-23/IL-17 axis has been identified as major factor involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases; yet its pathogenetic role in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) remains controversial. The aim of this research was to investigate the potential role of IL-23/IL-17 axis in the immunopathogenesis of PV, and correlation between IL-23+ cells and IL-17+ cells was also evaluated. For this purpose, ten patients with PV, three patients with pemphigus foliaceus (PF), and six healthy individuals were allocated to this research. The lesional skin biopsy specimens were obtained before treatment. Then immunofluorescence staining was performed to analyze the expression of IL-23 and IL-17 in the PV/PF patients and the healthy individuals. The results showed that the numbers of IL-23+ and IL-17+ cells were significantly higher in PV lesions, compared to PF lesions and normal control skins, respectively (all P < 0.05). Moreover, the correlation between IL-23+ cells and IL-17+ cells was significant (r = 0.7546; P < 0.05). Taken together, our results provided evidence that the IL-23/IL-17 axis may play a crucial role in the immunopathogenesis of PV and may serve as novel therapeutic target for PV.

A possible interaction between periostin and CD163+ skin‐resident macrophages in pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid

“…As many cytokines, including IL4, IL‐10, IL‐13, IL‐17 and IL‐23, were previously correlated with the pathogenesis of autoimmune bullous diseases, we hypothesized that POSTN stimulates CD163 + macrophages to augment the mRNA expression of cytokines that correlate with autoimmune bullous diseases. Consequently, we used the DNA microarray database that we previously described to identify gene expression that was modified by POSTN treatment.…”

Decreased serum levels of interleukin‐17, interleukin‐23, TGF ‐β in pemphigus vulgaris patients, and their association with disease phase

“…Also, IL-6, IL-23, and TGF-β are required for the Th17 differentiation and are In contrast to our results, a higher concentration and overexpression of IL-17 and IL-23 in the serum and in the lesions of PV patients has been reported previously. 14,18 This could be explained by heterogeneity of PV, which highlights the need to employ personalized medicine for PV patients in different phases of the disease. In our study, after assessing IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-β serum levels, the results showed significant scores among the newly diagnosed and in remission with respect to the control group.…”

Involvement of the IL23/Th17 Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Tunisian Pemphigus Foliaceus

“…In addition, strong data demonstrate that the lack of the proinflammatory cytokine IL23 in mice makes them resistant to experimental models of arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS) [ 25 , 26 ]. Thus, overexpression of this cytokine was reported in several AIDs such as psoriasis [ 27 ] and PV [ 28 ] but not in PF. The genetic association of rs11209026 was widely described in the context of AID.…”