ABSTRACT
Inflammation is one of the important processes in the pathogenesis of Acne Vulgaris (AV). Although clinically comedones are non-inflammatory lesions, microscopically the inflammation is active. Induction of immunological responses to Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is the main important factor in the development of AV. P. acnes is capable of inducing T-helper (Th)-17, the main function of which is to produce Interleukin (IL)-22 that acts as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. We compared IL-22 serum levels between the papulopustular type (inflammatory lesions) and the comedonal type (non-inflammatory lesions) in AV patients. Blood samples were collected from 12 patients for each group of papulopustular and comedonal types of AV, and measured the IL-22 serum level using the ELISA technique. The mean IL-22 serum level in the papulopustular group was 18.18 pg/ml, whereas in the comedonal group, it was 16.87 pg/ml (p > 0.05). The detection of IL-22 serum in the comedonal group supports the theory that the inflammatory process begins with comedones.
