Serum Levels of Interleukin-2 in Patients with Alopecia Areata: Relationship with Clinical Type and Duration of the Disease.

BACKGROUND

Alopecia areata (AA) is a disease characterized by focally, nonscarring hair loss on the scalp or any hair-bearing surface. The etiology is unknown, although the evidence suggests that AA is an immunologically mediated disease. In the pathogenesis of AA, Th1 immune response is predominant. A special cytokine profile is created by Th1 cells, which disturbs the natural balance of the cytokine networks and leads to inflammatory reaction and follicle damage.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to evaluate serum concentrations of IL-2 in patients with AA and healthy subjects. We also examined a possible association between serum levels of IL-2, disease severity, and duration of AA.

METHODS

Sixty patients with AA and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum concentrations of IL-2 were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay techniques.

RESULTS

Comparison of mean values of IL-2 has showed that serum concentrations of this cytokine are significantly higher in serum samples of AA patients in relation to the control group (22.2 ± 1.19 vs. 21.1 ± 2.68 pg/mL, respectively; p = 0.0142). No correlations were found between clinical type, duration of the disease, and serum levels of IL-2.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support the evidence that elevation of serum IL-2 is associated with AA. The exact role of serum IL-2 in AA should be additionally investigated in future studies.