ABSTRACT

Salusins and recently discovered interleukin (IL)-12 family members (IL-35 and IL-39) have been investigated in various disorders associated with chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of salusin-alpha (α), salusin-beta (β), IL-35, and IL-39 in the pathogenesis of rosacea.

This study is a single-center, prospective case–control study performed in a tertiary healthcare institution. Salusin-α, salusin-β, IL-35, and IL-39 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method from venous blood of 50 rosacea patients who did not receive any treatment and 50 age-matched healthy controls, and the test results were compared between the two groups as statistically.

Patients in the rosacea group (female:male ratio = 1.9:1; median age: 56 years) had significantly higher mean salusin-α, IL-35, and IL-39 levels compared with the control group (female:male ratio = 2.1:1; median age: 41 years). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of salusin-β levels.

The increased vascularity and Th1-mediated inflammation might be possible explanations for the elevated salusin-α and IL-39 levels in rosacea patients. On the other hand, the higher mean IL-35 level detected in the same group was an unexpected finding due to the immunosuppressive effect of the cytokine. Recently, targeted therapies have become popular in many inflammatory diseases. In this context, salusins, IL-35, and IL-39 seem to be possible molecules that could be modified for therapeutic reasons in the future in the treatment of rosacea.