The regulatory role of interleukin 4 and interferon gamma on IgE in active lesions of atopic dermatitis

Abstract EN

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory chronically relapsing skin disease.

Elevated serum levels of IgE is a constant finding in the disease.

Interleukin 4 (IL4) and interferon gamma (IFNy) play a role in modulating this increase in IgE levels.

Objectives: The present study was conducted to examine the individual or combined roles of IL4 and IFNy in modulating serum levels of IgE in active AD patients.

Subjects: thirty patients with active AD were divided into three groups: mild, moderate and severe AD, according to disease extent and severity as judged by SCORAD index.

Ten apparently healthy subjects served as controls.

Methods: After detailed history taking and thorough clinical examination, serum levels of IgE, IL4 and IFN^ were estimated for patients and controls employing ELISA monoclonal antibody method.

Results were statistically analyzed for comparison and correlation.

Results: Serum IgE levels were significantly higher in all disease groups than controls.

It was higher in severe AD patients than mild or moderate AD ones, Serum IL4 levels were significantly higher in all disease groups than controls, it was higher in severe AD patients than mild or moderate AD ones.

Serum IFNy levels were significantly lower in moderate and severe AD patients than controls, ft was significantly lower in moderate and severe than mild AD patients.

IL4/IFNy ratio was significantly higher in all disease groups than controls, it was higher in severe than mild or moderate AD patients, and in moderate than mild AD ones.

Simple linear regression revealed a statistically significant direct correlation between serum IgE levels and SCORAD index only in severe AD group.

Serum IL4 was significantly directly correlated to SCORAD index in moderate and severe AD patients.

Serum IFNy was significantly inversely corcelated with SCORAD index in mild and modarate AD patients.

IL4/IFNy ratio was significantly directly correlated to SCORAD index in mild, moderate and severe AD patients.

Conclusion: IL4/IFNy ratio is a better marker for AD disease severity than IgE, 1L4 or IFNy alone and can be used for monitoring progress of treatment.