Implication of T Helper Cytokines in Contact Dermatitis and Atopic Dermatitis

Purpose of review Cytokines play a key role in lesion development in inflammatory skin diseases such as contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis and are of great interest as therapeutic targets. This is reflected in the increasing number of clinical studies and case reports as well as preclinical mouse models that provide substantial data on the participation of cytokines in these pathologies. In this review, we provide a detailed and comprehensive account of the advances in the field. Recent results The importance and therapeutic potential of Th2 cytokines in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and atopic dermatitis (AD) are well documented. Recent results have added another member, IL-24, to the list of key players in both diseases. In addition, IL-9, which is associated with Th9 cells, has been found to be strongly increased in ACD patients, opening up another promising new avenue. Summary In this review, we describe the expression and role of Th cytokines in skin inflammatory disorders, based on mouse models and existing therapy, focusing on cytokines associated with different subpopulations of T helper cells.