The detection of interleukin-6 vasculitis associated with connective tissue diseases [DETECCION DE INTERLEUCINA-6 EN VASCULITIS LEUCOCITOCLASTICA ASOCIADA A ENFERMEDADES DEL TEJIDO CONECTIVO]

Interleukin-6 is a cytokine produced mainly by mononuclear phagocytes that plays an important role in the acute phase response. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of IL-6 on vasculitic skin lesions from patients with various connective tissue diseases. Skin biopsies were taken from skin lesions diagnosed clinically as vasculitis. A routine histopathologic study and direct immunofluorescence examination (for detection of IgG, IgM, IgA, and C3) were performed in each specimen. IL-6 was detected using a monoclonal anti-IL-6 antibody and an ABC immunostaining technique. All biopsies were found negative for the presence of IL-6 in blood vessels or dermal cell infiltrate; however, in two cases, small amounts of IL-6 were detected in epidermis and eccrine glands with a scattered stain pattern. Our results suggest that in situ production of IL-6 does not seems to have a relevant pathogenic role in the leukocytoclastic vasculitis seen in patients with connective tissue diseases.

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