Abstract: Objective To investigate the difference in the content of interleukin-1α(IL-1α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra),and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in scalp scales,and its significance in scalp scales-related diseases.Methods Scale samples were collected from patients with pityriasis capitis (n=15),seborrheic dermatitis (n=22),scalp psoriasis (n=15),and healthy control subjects (n=15) by Sebutape tape adhesion,then ffeezed at -80℃.One day later,the samples were subjected to ultrasonic degradation in D-phosphate buffered saline,and freezed again at -80℃.Three days later,the samples were thawing,then ELISA was used to measure the concentration of IL-1α,IL-1β,IL-1ra,and IL-8 in the extract fluid,and BCA method to measure the level of total protein (TP).To account for differences in protein loading on the tapes,all cytokine results were normalized using the TP amounts recovered in tape extracts.Results The IL-1α/TP level in the dandruff of patients with pityriasis capitis and those with seborrheic dermatitis were significantly higher than that in the normal scalp scales (P<0.05,P<0.01,respectively).There was no significant difference in IL-1β/TP level among all the groups (P>0.05).Both the IL-1ra/TP level and IL-1ra/IL-1αratio in the dandruff of scalp psoriasis patients were significantly higher than those in the normal controls (both P<0.001).The IL-8/TP level was significantly increased in the dandruff of patients with seborrheic dermatitis and those with scalp psoriasis in comparison with normal scalp scales (P<0.01,P<0.001,respectively).Conclusion These results suggest that IL-1α-and/or IL-8-mediated inflammatory responses may contribute to the pathogenesis of dandruff in pityriasis capitis,seborrheic dermatitis,and scalp psoriasis.

Key words: Pityriasis, Dermatitis, seborrheic, Psoriasis, Interleukin-1, Interleukin-8, Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, Dandruff