Immunohistochemical expression of interleukin β in papule biopsies from patients with acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is the most common inflammatory disease of the skin. IL-1β has been found in acne lesions and is a promising target for therapy, but the evidence is limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of IL-1β in papule biopsies of inflammatory acne and its association with disease severity. This study involved 20 patients with acne vulgaris (13 females, median age: 22 years). Samples were taken using punch biopsy. Immunohistochemical IL-1β expression was semi-quantitatively assessed as absent, mild, moderate or strong. Disease severity was evaluated according to the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). There were 7 patients with mild disease and 11 patients with moderate disease. Median GAGS score was 20. Mild and moderate accounted for 65% and 30% for dermal IL-1β expression, 60% and 40% for epidermal expression, and 70% and 15% for perifollicular expression. Moderate-strong perifollicular expression had significant higher GAGS score than absent-mild expression (median: 22 versus 16). This study shows the elevated immunoreactivity of IL-1β in papule biopsies of inflammatory acne vulgaris. The levels of IL-1β expression also correlates with disease severity. IL-1β could be a good candidate for targeting treatment of acne vulgaris.