Serum Cytokine Profiles in Infants with Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) in infancy is believed to have distinct features as compared to AD in other age groups, and little is known about cytokine production in infants with AD. We aimed to measure the serum cytokine levels of infants with atopic dermatitis and evaluate the association of new anti-inflammatory cytokines with the disease. Eighty-one infant patients with AD and 52 healthy controls were involved in this study. The serum levels of major pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines of the T-helper (Th) subtypes, as well as more recently defined interleukins (IL-27, IL-35, and IL-37), were measured using the ELISA method. The serum levels of IL-35, IL-5, and interferon (IFN)-γ were found to be significantly higher, while the levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and IL-13 were found to be significantly lower in patients with AD as compared to controls. There was no statistically significant correlation between serum cytokine levels and objective SCORAD index or total immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels. We did not observe prominent serum Th2 polarization in atopic infants. The immunopathogenesis of atopy onset at an early age may be more complicated than that at older ages.