Serum interleukin 17, interleukin 23, and interleukin 10 values in children with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS): association with clinical severity and phenotype

Allergy Asthma Proc. 2015 Jan-Feb;36(1):74-81. doi: 10.2500/aap.2015.36.3808.

Abstract

To date cytokines profile in AEDS is poorly described in children. We evaluated the interleukin (IL)-17, IL-23, and IL-10 levels in atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) children and healthy controls, in atopic AEDS (aAEDS) and nonatopic (naAEDS) subtypes and their relationship with disease severity. A total of 181 children with aAEDS and 93 healthy children were evaluated. According to the skin-prick test (SPT) for allergens and serum total IgE, all patients were subdivided in two groups: 104 aAEDS and 77 naAEDS. In all patients, serum IL-17, IL-23, and IL-10 levels were detected. Serum IL-17 and IL-23 levels were significantly higher, and serum IL-10 levels were significantly lower in AEDS children than healthy group (p < 0.001). Moreover, serum IL-17 and IL-23 levels were significantly higher in aAEDS than in naAEDS subtypes (p < 0.001). Differently, serum IL-10 levels resulted similar in both subtypes. There was a correlation between Score Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index and both IL-17 and IL-23 and an inverse correlation between SCORAD index and IL-10 in aAEDS and naAEDS types. Serum IL-17 and IL-23 values were positively related to total IgE levels (p < 0.0001) in aAEDS. Further increase of IL-17 and IL-23 levels was detected in aAEDS subjects with atopic diseases such as asthma and rhinitis than children with only allergic sensitization. Our study confirms the role of IL-17, IL-23, and IL-10 and their relationship with the severity of AEDS. We firstly found a correlation between high IL-17/IL-23 axis levels and different phenotypes of AEDS in children, suggesting its role as marker of "atopic march" and disease severity.

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / blood*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Interleukin-10 / blood*
  • Interleukin-17 / blood*
  • Interleukin-23 / blood*
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-23
  • Interleukin-10
  • Immunoglobulin E