Relationship of Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-6 with Pigmentation Disorders in Sardasht Sulfur Mustard-Exposed Veterans 20 Years after Exposure

Aims: Pigmentation disorders are one of the main skin problems due to mustard gas exposure in chemically-injured veterans. The aim of this study as part of the Sardasht cohort study was to investigate the association between IL-6 and IL-4 and pigment disorders in chemically-injured veterans exposed to mustard gas. Materials & Methods: In this study, 500 subjects including 372 people exposed to mustard gas and 128 people as control group were studied. Systematic random sampling was done. 2cc of peripheral blood of each subject was taken and the blood was allowed to be clotted at the room temperature (37°C). Tubes containing the clotted blood centrifuged for 5min and the serum was separated. Serum levels of IL-4 and IL-6 were measured using the ELISA sandwich and kit was determined using ELISA reading apparatus. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the serum levels of cytokines in the studied groups. Findings: Serum levels of IL-6 in veterans with and without reduction or increase in pigmentation disorders showed no significant difference. But compared with control group, there was a significant reduction in veterans without hypopigmentation disorder, while there was no significant difference between control group veterans with hypopigmentation disorder. Serum levels of IL-4 significantly increased in veterans with hypopigmentation disorder compared with veterans without the disorder. Conclusion: Changes in serum levels of Il-4 and Il-6 may be involved in hypopigmentation.