Assessment of the role of T Helper 17 cells in the pathogenesis of Acne Vulgaris. Maher Nahla1, Gawdat HebatAllah Ismail2, Hadidi Heba Helmy El3, Shaker Olfat Gamil4 1Dermatology Specialist At Kasr Al Ainy Hospital. Cairo University, Egypt 2Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt 3Professor of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt 4Professor of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt Online published on 31 March, 2020. Abstract Background Acne vulgaris, a multi-factorial disease, is considered one of the most common dermatological diseases carrying with it significant psychological disturbance. The mechanisms of inflammation occurring in acne are now a subject of intense investigation. The T-lymphocyte function is altered in AV together with the cytokines produced by T-cell subsets, hence implicated in the immunopathogenesis of AV. The role of T Helper 17 cells (Th17) in the pathogenesis of AV has not been established. Objective Study the level of expression of Th17 cytokine (IL-17) in tissue of patients of AV with both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions. Method 50 patients with AV as well as 30 age and sex matched healthy controls were included. Clinical examination was done and tissue levels of IL-17 were measured by ELISA. Results The mean tissue levels of IL-17 were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.001). A statistically significant relation was found between tissue levels of IL-17 and the type of lesion; where the mean levels of IL-17 were statistically significant in patients with both inflammatory (papules & pustules) and non-inflammatory type (comedones) of AV but was found statistically higher in inflammatory type. Conclusion Th17 cells potentially play a role in the pathogenesis of AV. Larger scale studies are required to verify the role of Th17 cells in inflammatory and non-inflammatory types of AV. Top Keywords Acne vulgaris-T Helper 17-Pathogenesis-Inflammatory lesions-Non-inflammatory lesions. Top |