Profile of cytokine mRNA expression in spontaneous and UV-induced skin lesions from actinic prurigo patients Article uri icon

abstract

  • Background - Actinic prurigo (AP) appears to be an immune-mediated disease triggered by exposure to ultraviolet light (UV). Objective - To assess the profile of cytokine production in skin lesions from AP patients. Methods - The cytokine production (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α, IFN-τ, and TGF-β) in skin biopsies from 12 AP lesions was determined by a semiquantitative coupled reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results - We found expression of TGF-β and IL-13 genes in most AP skin lesions; IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-τ, and IL-10 were detected in some of these specimens. However, the levels of expression of all cytokines studied were not significantly different in AP skin lesions compared to nonlesional skin. Conclusions - TGF-β and IL-13 might have a key role in both the inflammatory phenomenon and absence of significant expression of most cytokines in AP skin. The cytokine production in AP skin resembles that observed in rheumatoid synovium, a paucity in cytokine expression despite the presence of infiltrating activated mononuclear cells.

publication date

  • 1997-01-01