Increased expression of the interleukin-36 cytokines in lesions of hidradenitis suppurativa

Summary

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a recalcitrant chronic skin disease with poorly understood immunopathogenic mechanisms. Previous studies reported that the interleukin-36 (IL-36) cytokines (IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ, and IL-36 receptor antagonist [IL-36RA]) are important players in the pathogenesis of psoriasis (PS).

Objective

We aim to determine whether the IL-36 cytokines are upregulated in HS patients. For this purpose, we analysed local expression and systemic levels of the IL-36 cytokines in HS patients and compared the results to healthy donors and PS patients.

Methods

Skin biopsies from healthy donors and HS and PS patients were analysed for expression of the IL-36 cytokines by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative real-time PCR. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure systemic levels of the IL-36 cytokines in the serum of the three donor groups.

Results

The agonists IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ were found to be upregulated in HS both systemically and lesionally, while the IL-36RA was not differently regulated in comparison to healthy donors.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the agonistic IL-36 isoforms are upregulated in HS. The relevance of the enhanced production of IL-36 cytokines in HS pathogenesis remains to be determined.

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