Expression of IL-17 and COX2 Gene in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes of Vitiligo Patients

Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder in which inflammatory mediators such as cytokines have a pivotal role in diseaseʹs pathogenesis. Interleukin 17 (IL-17A) is a proinflammatory cytokine which is involved in the induction of several proinflamatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2). The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression of IL-17 and COX2 in peripheral blood leukocytes of vitiligoʹs patients. Peripheral blood leukocytes from 15 patients with vitiligo and 15 healthy controls were separated using a gradient density centrifugation method. After total RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis, IL-17 and COX2 gene expression were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There were no significant differences in IL-17 and COX2 gene expression in lymphocytes of patients with vitiligo compared with control group (p<0.05). However there was an increased IL-17 and COX2 gene expression in neutrophils of patients compared to controls, but it did not reach statistical significance (p=0.05).  We could not find any differences in IL-17 and Cox2  gene expression between clinical diseases subtypes, sex and age. There was a significant correlation between IL-17 and COX2 genes expression in the neutrophils of patients (p=0.00, r=0.80). Our results showed an increased expression in IL-17 and Cox-2 genes in neurophils of patients with vitiligo. This suggested that these two factors are involved in the inflammatory process. Further studies with a larger sample size might help to establish the role of these factors in the pathogenesis of diseases.