Affiliations: Child Health Department, National Research Center,
Cairo, Egypt | Therapeutic Chemistry Department, National Research
Center, Cairo, Egypt | Hormones Department, National Research Center, Cairo,
Egypt
Note: [] Corresponding author: Hanan Farouk Aly, Therapeutic Chemistry
Department, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt. Tel.: +20 1220804342; Fax:
+20 233371433; E-mail: hanan_abduallah@yahoo.com
Abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease with no
cure, currently affects almost one-fifth of the population of industrialized
nations. Treatment can be challenging for physicians and patients, making it
even more difficult to find safe therapeutic options, especially in severe
disease. Interest in diet and nutrition has increased during the last few
years. Nutritional interventions are both intriguing and accessible for many
patients. AD has two phases, acute and chronic. No therapeutic attempts has yet
been tried to target these phases rather than treatment according to severity
grade. Studies point to interleukin (IL)-18 as key player in the pathogenesis
of AD and the switch between its two phases. T helper (Th) cytokines (IL-4,
IL-10, IL-12, IL-18), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis
factor-α (TNF-α), immunoglobulin E (Ig E), and vitamins E and C in
children and adolescents with acute and chronic AD. Sixty AD patients were
classified into two groups; children (acute) and adolescents (chronic) AD, with
thirty in each. In addition, two corresponding healthy normal control groups of
thirty each were evaluated. Serum IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18, IFN-γ and
serum IgE were estimated by ELISA. IL-12, IL-18 and IFN-γ levels were
2–C-4 folds higher in chronic AD as compared to normal controls. IL-18 and
TNF-α levels were significantly higher in chronic than acute AD patients.
Vitamins C and E, on the other hand, were significant decreased in chronic
versus acute AD patients. Conclusion: ILs, IFN-γ, TNF-α and serum
IgE may play a role in AD. In addition, measurement of IL-18 may be a valuable
tool for assessment of age related disease severity. Also, vitamins C and E
appear to be reduced in acute and chronic AD patients.
Keywords: Atopic dermatitis, interleukins, TNF-α, INF-γ, vitamins C and E
