Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 13 3 2014 06 15 174 183 EN Hossein Mortazavi Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Nafiseh Esmaili Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Somayeh Khezri Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Ali Khamesipour Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Iman Vasheghani Farahani Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Maryam Daneshpazhooh Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Maryamdanesh.pj@gmail.com. Nima Rezaei Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Molecular Immunology Research Center; and Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 16 Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease, in which the role of Th17 cytokines needs to be further explored. This study was performed to assess serum levels of three interleukins (IL) required for Th17 differentiation (IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-23) and two specific Th17 cytokines (IL-17 and IL-22) in a group of patients with pemphigus vulgaris, at baseline, 3 weeks and 6 months after of treatment. Correlations between anti-desmogleins and cytokines with disease severity as well as the influence of therapy on the above factors were assessed. Forty-three first-admitted pemphigus vulgaris patients with the active disease entered the study, but  only 31 completed  the  study. Forty-five healthy volunteers were recruited as a control group. The patients were treated with conventional immunosuppressive therapy (oral prednisolone and azathioprine). Cytokines and anti-desmogleins were measured, using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay. General linear model was used to evaluate the changes over time. In patients at baseline, mean serum level of IL-6 was higher, while mean levels of IL-1β and IL-22 were lower than the controls. After 3 weeks of therapy, IL-1β and IL-6 levels showed a decreasing trend, whereas IL-22 showed an increasing trend. Mean anti-desmogleins 1 and 3 values  decreased  significantly during  the  time.  Anti-desmoglein  values  were  significantly correlated with disease severity. In conclusion, IL-1β and IL-6 could be involved in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris. The positive trend of IL-22 is a new finding and should be confirmed by further studies. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/459 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/459/378