Interleukins-6, -8 and -12p40 and C-reactive protein levels in patients with acne vulgaris with various severityof skin changes

Introduction
Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin diseases. It occurs mainly in young people and affects about 80% of individuals in this age group. The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the development of lesions is not fully understood.

Objective
To assess the relationship between levels of interleukins -6, -8, -12p40 and C-reactive protein in the blood serum of patients diagnosed with acne vulgaris and the severity of skin lesions in this group of patients.

Material and methods
Serum samples collected from 47 patients (37 women and 10 men) with acne vulgaris and 41 healthy volunteers (21 women and 20 men) aged 18 to 34 years were tested. The levels of interleukins -6, -8, -12p40 and C-reactive protein were determined by enzyme immunoassay ELISA. The concentrations were correlated with the severity of the disease process using the generally available Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scale.

Results
The serum level of interleukin 6 of acne vulgaris patients was higher than in the control group. A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the interleukin-6 level and severity of skin lesions in the course of the disease. Serum levels of interleukin-8 of volunteers from both groups did not show a statistically significant difference. However, it was found that in patients with acne vulgaris, the serum concentration of interleukin-12p40 is lower compared to the control group. Patients with acne vulgaris have higher C-reactive protein levels compared to the control group. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the C-reactive protein level and the severity of the disease.

Conclusions
Interleukin-6 may be a helpful marker for monitoring the course of the disease and a useful tool for assessing an individual patient’s predisposition to severe skin lesions. Thus, it can contribute to faster decision making regarding the introduction of systemic therapy. Interleukin-12p40 deficiency may be one of the most important factors in the aetiopathogenesis of the disease, especially at the earliest stages.