Periostin and Interleukin-13 Are Independently Related to Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a complex idiopathic disease of the skin with various cellular infiltrations. Although mast cells are key effector cells in the pathogenesis of CSU, CD4+ T helper 2 cells also have particular roles in the development and maintenance of CSU. Periostin is known as a downstream molecule of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, key cytokines of type 2 immune responses. In this study, we examined periostin and IL-13 levels in the sera of patients with CSU (n=84) and healthy normal controls (NCs, n=43). Periostin levels were significantly lower in the CSU group than in NCs (71.4 +/- 21.8 vs 85.1 +/- 22.4 ng/mL, P=0.04). Periostin levels were also lower in the severe CSU group than those in mild CSU (59.7 +/- 18.0 vs 73.4 +/- 22.0 ng/mL, P=0.04). However, IL-13 levels were significantly higher in patients with CSU than in NCs (508.5 +/- 51.2 vs 200.7 +/- 13.3 pg/mL, P=0.001). In conclusion, periostin and IL-13 may be independently related to the pathogenesis of CSU.