Overexpression of interleukin-23 and interleukin-17 in the lesion of pemphigus vulgaris: a preliminary study

Jixin Xue, Wenting Su, Zhiwei Chen, Youhui Ke, Xiaojing Du, Qiaochu Zhou, Jixin Xue, Wenting Su, Zhiwei Chen, Youhui Ke, Xiaojing Du, Qiaochu Zhou

Abstract

IL-23/IL-17 axis has been identified as major factor involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases; yet its pathogenetic role in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) remains controversial. The aim of this research was to investigate the potential role of IL-23/IL-17 axis in the immunopathogenesis of PV, and correlation between IL-23+ cells and IL-17+ cells was also evaluated. For this purpose, ten patients with PV, three patients with pemphigus foliaceus (PF), and six healthy individuals were allocated to this research. The lesional skin biopsy specimens were obtained before treatment. Then immunofluorescence staining was performed to analyze the expression of IL-23 and IL-17 in the PV/PF patients and the healthy individuals. The results showed that the numbers of IL-23+ and IL-17+ cells were significantly higher in PV lesions, compared to PF lesions and normal control skins, respectively (all P < 0.05). Moreover, the correlation between IL-23+ cells and IL-17+ cells was significant (r = 0.7546; P < 0.05). Taken together, our results provided evidence that the IL-23/IL-17 axis may play a crucial role in the immunopathogenesis of PV and may serve as novel therapeutic target for PV.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Immunofluorescence studies of specimens from lesions of PV (a–d) and from normal skin of control (e–h). The red and green stained cells were detected by antibodies to IL-23 and CD163, respectively.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Immunofluorescence studies of lesional skin specimens (a–d) and control skin specimens (e–h). The red and green stained cells were detected by antibodies to IL-17 and CD163, respectively.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Quantification of the number of IL-23+ cells (a) and IL-17+ cells (b) in PV and normal control group. The significance of the differences was assessed by an unpaired t-test.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Correlation between IL-23+ cells and IL-17+ cells in the lesions of PV. The counts of IL-23+ cells and IL-17+ cells were the average number of three 200x fields of views from three sections. Significance of the correlation was assessed by Pearson test.

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