IL-38 and IL-27 as Predictors of Vitiligo Disease Severity | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||||
| Article 6, Volume 35, Issue 1, January 2026 | ||||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.390029.1683 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Omnia G.A. Gaber  1; Ahmed A. Ahmed2; Michael N. Agban3; Reham M. Abd El-Gaber4
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| 1Assistant lecturer of Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Merit University, Sohag, Egypt | ||||
| 2Emeritus Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt | ||||
| 3Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt | ||||
| 4Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Venereology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by the selective loss of melanocytes, leading to depigmentation. It is an autoimmune condition that significantly affects the self-esteem and quality of life of those who suffer from it. Current treatments of vitiligo primarily consist of non-targeted immunosuppressants, which have limited effectiveness and are often used off-label. Objective: The purpose of this study is to measure the serum levels of IL-38 and IL-27 in patients with vitiligo and to analyze any correlation between these levels and factors such as disease duration, extent of the condition, and disease activity. Additionally, we will compare the levels of IL-38 and IL-27 in patients with vitiligo with those in healthy controls. Methodology: This study employed a case-control design involving 48 participants, comprising 28 patients with vitiligo and 20 unrelated healthy volunteers who served as the control group. The volunteers were matched with the patients based on sex, age, and skin type. Patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Department of Dermatology at Assiut University Faculty of Medicine. The study assessed the relationship between IL-38 and IL-27 levels and the characteristics of the patients using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Results: Patients with vitiligo showed significantly higher serum levels of IL-38 compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001). However, there was no significant correlation between IL-38 levels and signs of vitiligo activity (p = 0.3618). In contrast, patients with vitiligo had significantly lower serum levels of IL-27 than healthy controls (p < 0.0001), and this difference was significant in VIDA scores (p = 0.0124). Conclusion: The serum level of IL-38 was higher in patients with vitiligo compared to healthy controls and was associated with the severity and activity of vitiligo. The lower serum levels of IL-27 in patients with vitiligo suggest a potential anti-inflammatory role for this cytokine in the disease. Consequently, IL-27 may be considered a novel target for immune intervention in patients with vitiligo. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Vitiligo; autoimmunity; melanocyte; healthy control | ||||
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