Levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, IL-37 cytokines in patients with active vitiligo

• Published in: The aging male 2020-12, Vol.23 (5), p.1487-1492
• Main Authors: Karagün, Ebru, Baysak, Sevim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aging; Cytokines; Humans; IL-17; IL-37; IL-6; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-6; Mens health; Pathogenesis; Patients; TNF-α; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Vitiligo; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1368-5538; 1473-0790
• DOI: 10.1080/13685538.2020.1806814

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, and its pathogenesis involves changes in cytokine levels in the affected patients. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-17 from pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-37 in a recently detected anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of our study was to determine serum TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, IL-37 levels in patients with vitiligo to understand their possible roles in the disease etiology and to compare the results with the healthy controls. The study included 48 generalized vitiligo patients who were diagnosed with vitiligo, had an increase in the lesions within the last 3 months, and did not receive any systemic or topical treatment during this period; furthermore, 18 healthy controls were included. Patient group: n = 48, mean age = 30.48 ± 9.86 years; control group: n = 18, mean age = 28.27 ± 9.66 years. Individuals in the patient group had significantly higher serum levels of IL-37(t = 3.90, p < .001), IL-6 (t = 3.39, p < .05), IL-17 (t = 2.08, p < .05), and TNF-α (t = 4.69 p < .001) than in the control group. The high levels of (pro-anti) inflammatory cytokines in vitiligo patients draw attention to the importance of cytokines in the pathogenesis of the disease.