Elevated Serum Levels of Interleukin-15 in Pemphigus Vulgaris Patients: A Potential Therapeutic Target

Maedeh Kheirodin; Zohreh Tehranchinia; Yasaman Ketabi; Soheil Tavakolpour; Sahar Dadkhahfar; Masoomeh  Faghankhani; Hassan Vahidnezhad; Nikoo Mozafari

doi:10.5826/dpc.1203a118

Elevated Serum Levels of Interleukin-15 in Pemphigus Vulgaris Patients: A Potential Therapeutic Target

Authors

Maedeh Kheirodin School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zohreh Tehranchinia Skin research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Yasaman Ketabi Skin research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Soheil Tavakolpour Skin research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sahar Dadkhahfar Skin research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Masoomeh Faghankhani Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
Hassan Vahidnezhad Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
Nikoo Mozafari Skin research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Dermatology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Keywords:

Pemphigus vulgaris; interleukin-15; anti-Desmoglein; IL-15; ABSIS

Abstract

introduction: IL-15 as a member of the immunoregulatory cytokines family is associated with the development of the autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease.

objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of IL-15 in patients with pemphigus

vulgaris and assess the association of IL-15 with anti-desmoglein antibodies and the severity of

the disease.

methods: fifty-three individuals affected with active pemphigus Vulgaris and 38 age and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristics and Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorder Intensity Score (ABSIS) were assessed. Serum levels of IL-15 (pg/mL) and anti-desmoglein antibodies (Dsg1, 3) were measured.

Result: The serum level of IL-15 in the patient group was assumed to be statistically higher than

that of the control group (3.71 ± 1.5 vs. 0.79 ± 1.03 (p< 0.001)). A positive correlation was found

between serum levels of IL-15 and severity of pemphigus Vulgaris measured by ABSIS (r=0.5,

p=0.04). No significant relationship was detected between the serum level of IL-15 and antidesmoglein antibodies (Dsg1 or Dsg3). (p=0.6 and p=0.9, respectively).

Conclusion: our findings showed that levels of IL‐15 were elevated in the sera of pemphigus

patients and were related to disease severity. An increase in serum level of Il-15 in patients with

pemphigus Vulgaris and its relation with disease severity suggest that this cytokine may play a

role in the pathogenesis of the disease and targeting IL-15 will likely provide a new

perspective on the treatment of this disease.

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