A study of cytokine content in the blood serum of patients with lichen ruber planus

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Lichen ruber planus (LRP) is a chronic multifactorial dermatosis characterized by skin deterioration, intensive itchiness, and resistance to therapy. It leads to long term patient disability, therefore the main objective of the management is to define the pathogenetic factors of LRP, with the purpose of treatment optimization.

The objective of this study was to determine and analyze the level of individual cytokines in blood serum of patients with lichen ruber planus with different clinical symptoms of dermatosis.

Material and methods. The study involved 37 patients with lichen ruber planus. In 20 patients with LRP the pathology of the skin was widespread, and in 17 patients it was limited and localized. In 19 patients the dermatosis lasted for up to 6 months, in the remaining 18 patients – for more than 6 months. In patients with LRP, blood serum concentrations of individual cytokines – tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were determined by immunoassay analysis.

Results. It has been found that in blood serum of patients with LRP there is a significant increase of TNF-α and IL-1β, a mild increase of IL-4 and a tendency to decrease in IL-10 comparing to the control group. Significant changes in the content of the cytokines in the blood serum were observed for the patients with a widespread form of lichen ruber planus and the duration of the disease for more than 6 months, comparing to those with limited forms of the dermatosis and  duration of the disease for up to 6 months.

Conclusions. In patients with LRP, changes of the indicators of cytokine profile in the peripheral blood were observed. There was a significant increase in the level of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), and only a a mild increase or the tendency to decrease in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, respectively. The magnitude of these changes of cytokines was dependent on the nature of the clinical progression of the LRP. This finding indicates the significance of the cytokines in the regulation of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of LRP. These findings report the importance in examining levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as a criteria in the clinical evaluation of LRP and the effectiveness of its treatment.

Keywords: lichen ruber planus, clinical course, cytokines.

 Corresponding author:

Olha I. DENYSENKO
Department of Dermatoveneorology, Higher State Educational Establishment of Ukraine “Bukovinian State Medical University”
Address: Lermontova str. 11, Chernivtsi, Ukraine 58002
Phone +380505279434, e-mail: denisenko.olga.md@gmail.com