The associations of Th17 cell-relevant cytokines IL-17/IL-23 with the pathogenesis and disease severity of eczema

Objective It is revealed that Th17 cells and their relevant cytokines interleukin-17(IL-17) and interleukin-23(IL-23) play crucial roles in the inflammatory allergic skin diseases.But their roles in eczema are still unidentified.We aim to investigate the possible roles of Th17 cell-relevant cytokines IL-17/IL-23 for the pathogenesis and severity assessment of eczema in this study. Methods Sixty cases of patients with eczema and 28 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were recruited.According to eczema area and severity index(EASI) score,patients with eczema were divided into mild,moderate and severe ones(20 cases respectively).Concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 in serum were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and their associations with EASI score,eosinophil(EOS) count and total IgE level were analyzed. Results Compared with healthy controls,serum concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 in patients with eczema were significantly elevated.And the level of IL-17 correlated positively to that of IL-23.The serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in patients with mild,moderate,severe eczema and healthy controls were significantly different,severe eczema higher than mild and moderate ones,moderate eczema higher than mild ones;and mild ones higher than controls(P<0.05).Meanwhile,serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in patients with eczema positively correlated to EASI scores,indicating that IL-17 and IL-23 levels were associated with disease severity of eczema.The levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in eczema patients with elevated EOS count were significantly higher than that of normal EOS count.Beside,IL-17 and IL-23 levels of patients with eczema showed positive correlations to EOS count.Enhanced IL-17 and IL-23 levels were observed in eczema patients with elevated total IgE than that of normal IgE,but with no significant differences. Conclusion IL-17 and IL-23 may play synergetic roles in the pathogenesis and severity assessment of eczema.IL-17/IL-23 are probably correlated to the elevated EOS count in eczema,but the relationships with total IgE need further studies.