Association between Interleukin-19 Concentration and Degree of Severity of Acne Vulgaris

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial disease associated with pilosebaceous follicle and results in inflammatory and non- inflammatory lesions. Interleukin-19 was identified for the first time in 2000 by analysis of genomic sequences for IL-10 homologues, the  genetic location for IL-19 on human chromosome 1q32, and is closely linked to IL-10 as part of a gene cluster with IL-20 and IL-24. The  study aimed to measure serum IL-19 levels in different degrees of severity of acne vulgaris patients for better understanding of its role in  the etiopathogenesis of acne, and to prove if there is a possible correlation between serum Interleukin 19 level and the degree of severity  of the acne.

Methods: Our study was a case control study done at out-patient clinic of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology  Department at Zagazig University Hospitals. The study included 48 individuals divided into 2 groups: Patient group: 36  patients with acne vulgaris (12 mild, 12 moderate, 12 severe) Control group: 12 healthy persons. All subjects in this study were subjected  to history taking and assessment of the severity of acne using acne staging and laboratory investigation (IL-19).

Results: There was statistically significant difference in serum IL-19 between the different grades of the disease severity. Analysis revealed significant  difference in IL19 serum concentration between (mild and moderate group) and (moderate and severe group), While highly significant  difference was found between IL-19 serum concentration of mild cases group and severe cases group. Serum IL-19 level was not  statistically related to the age of onset, family history, gender, and previous treatment.

Conclusions: From this study we could prove that  IL-19 is related to the inflammatory etiopathogenesis of mild, moderate and severe acne vulgaris. Also, Serum IL-19 level has significant  statistical difference between the different grades of acne vulgaris severity.