Identification and Functional Characterization of the Cellular and Molecular Actors of the IL-17B/IL-17RB Axis in Bullous Pemphigoid

What this Trial Is About

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune skin disease, mainly affecting older adults. It typically causes tense blisters on the trunk and limbs with severe itching, but can also appear as atypical forms without blisters or with mucosal damage. Current treatments mainly involve strong topical and systemic steroids, which are effective but not targeted, leading to many side effects, especially in elderly patients. About 30% of patients experience relapse within the first year after reducing or stopping steroid therapy. This research focuses on the role of IL-17 family inflammatory cytokines in BP, aiming to better understand their role in inflammation and relapse to advance precision medicine approaches. This study is a prospective, single-center investigation involving 90 patients with bullous pemphigoid. Researchers will analyze the cellular and molecular components of the IL-17B/IL-17RB axis at diagnosis and during treatment. The study aims to confirm IL-17B as a potential biomarker for treatment outcomes, examine how IL-17B and its receptor change during therapy, evaluate their involvement in disease relapse, and characterize inflammatory cell profiles in skin and blood over the first year of treatment. Participants will undergo blood sampling and skin biopsies at multiple time points, including days 1, 30, 60, 90, 150, 270, and 365. Researchers will identify IL-17RB-expressing and IL-17B-producing cells in blood and lesion sites and measure IL-17B concentrations in serum. The study includes detailed clinical evaluations, aiming to better understand BP's inflammatory mechanisms, treatment responses, and relapse patterns over one year.

Deciphering IL-17-dependant Inflammatory Response in Bullous Pemphigoid