Abstract: Objective To characterize changes in serum levels of leptin, soluble leptin receptor (sLR) and cytokines(IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF- a)in pemphigus. Methods Thirty-five patients with pemphigus and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum concentrations of leptin, IL-2, 6, 10 and TNF-α were measured by radio-immunoassay, and that of sLR was measated by ELISA. Results The mean serum leptin concentration in patients was significantly increased than that in healthy control subjects(10.67±8.22 ng/mL vs 4.50±2.42 ng/mL, P<0.001),whereas the mean sLR concentration in patients was significantly decreased than that in healthy.control subjects(81.60±36.60 ng/mL vs 113.53±39.33 ng/mL, P<0.005)。Meanwhile, the mean serum concentrations of IL-2 and IL-10 in patients(16.94±8.63 ng1mL and 44.33±9.49 ng/mL)were significantly higher than those in healthy control subjects(10.15±5.62 nglmL and 37.02±8.63 ng/mL)(P<0.05),whereas the mean serum IL-6 concentration in patients was lower than that in healthy control subjects(0.13±0.015 ng/mL vs 0.17±0.058 ng/mL, P<0.05).The mean senzm TNF-α concentration in patients was only slight higher than that in healthy control subjects(0.078±0.009 ng/nl vs 0.073±0.010 ng/mL, P>0.05).Furthetmore, correlative analysis indicated that the level of serum leptin was negatively correlated with levels of sLR and IL-6(r=-0.446 and -0.72, respectively)(P<0.05),and was positively correlated with level of IL-2(r=0.33, P<0.05). Conclusion The serum concentrations of leptin, sLR, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 are abnormal in patients with vemphigus.

Key words: Pemphigus, Leptin, Leptin receptor, Interleukins, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha