Up-regulated expression of MICA and proinflammatory cytokines in skin biopsies from patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis

MOLINERO, LUCIANA LORENA; GRUBER, MIJAL; LEONI, JULIANA; WOSCOFF, ALBERTO; ZWIRNER, NORBERTO WALTER

CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY

Elsevier

Lugar: New York; Año: 2003 vol. 106 p. 50 - 54

1521-6616

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a disease of unknown etiopathogenesis that affects the 5% of the population. In this study, we investigated expression of mRNA for IL-1a, IL-6, IL-4, IFN-g and the stress-inducible MICA molecule, in skin biopsies from 12 patients with moderate to severe seborrhoeic dermatitis and 2 healthy volunteers, by RT-PCR and hybridization with specific probes. Eight patients expressed INF-g, 2 expressed IL-6, 8 expressed IL-1a, and 2 expressed IL-4 (one with moderate disease). Eight patients expressed inflammatory cytokines (IL-1a, IL-6 and/or IFN-g) in healthy skin. Higher cytokine mRNA in damaged vs. healthy skin was also observed, suggesting the existence of an inflammation that predisposes healthy skin to develop overt disease. Up-regulated expression of MICA mRNA was observed in 8 patients. Although the pathogenesis of seborrhoeic dermatitis remains to be elucidated, expression of cytotoxicity-activating ligands (MICA), recruitment of NK cells and a local pro-inflammatory microenvironment may facilitate the development of tissue injury.