Interleukin-6 in normal skin and psoriasis

Interleukin-6 (IL-6 or BSF-2/IFN beta 2) is a component of normal human skin. IL-6 was immunologically detected in basal keratinocytes, endothelial cells and in a number of mononucleated cells and fibroblasts in normal skin and sudoriparous ducts. In psoriasis, intense labelling of the cytoplasm in the vicinity of keratinocyte membranes was detected in all epidermal layers and other skin appendages. The fact that this interleukin acts synergistically with respect to IL-1 and Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) strengthens the hypothesis whereby IL-6 may contribute via its receptor action to EGF function in modulating cell hyper-proliferation in psoriasis.