ICAM-1, ELAM-1, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in serum and blister liquid of pemphigus vulgaris patients

• Published in: Romanian archives of microbiology and immunology Vol. 58; no. 2; p. 121
• Main Authors: Alecu, M, Alecu, S, Coman, G, Gălăţescu, E, Ursaciuc, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romania 01-04-1999
• Subjects: Adult; E-Selectin - analysis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Exudates and Transudates - immunology; Female; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - analysis; Interleukin-6 - analysis; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa - immunology; Mouth Mucosa - pathology; Pemphigus - blood; Pemphigus - immunology; Skin - immunology; Skin - pathology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis
• ISSN: 1222-3891

The levels of ICAM-1, ELAM-1, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were determined in 12 patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) both in serum and the blister liquid. As a control, the same parameters were determined in 7 patients with herpes zoster (HZ). The patients with PV presented significantly higher values of ICAM-1 in the blister liquid, as compared to the serum values. The values of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were increased both in serum and the blister liquid. The ELAM-1 values did not show significant differences between serum and the blister liquid. In HZ patients, the blister liquid values did not significantly exceed the serum values both for ICAM-1 and ELAM-1. TNF-alpha and IL-6 presented high values both in serum and the blister liquid. We consider that the high values of ICAM-1 in the blister liquid from PV patients suggest the involvement of this adhesion molecule in the PV pathogenic features. The implication of ICAM-1 could be nonspecific and limited, and could possibly represent a reaction to the destruction of the desmosomal bonds within keratinocytes.