To measure the expression of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and its receptors in mycosis fungoides (MF) lesions, and to investigate their clinical significance.

A total of 34 paraffin-embedded specimens of MF, which was confirmed by clinical and histopathological features, immunophenotyping and/or T-cell receptor gene rearrangements, were collected from Hangzhou Third People's Hospital between January 2010 and March 2016. According to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system, 5 patients were at stageⅠA, 9 at stageⅠB, 17 at stageⅡA, and 3 at stageⅡB. Ten normal skin tissue specimens served as controls. Immunohistochemical study was conducted to measure the expression of IL-13, IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2.

IL-13, IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2 were all expressed in atypical lymphoid cells and epidermotropic lymphoid cells in MF lesions at various stages. IL-13Rα2 was highly expressed in all the MF lesions. None of IL-13 and its receptors were expressed in normal skin tissues and lymphocytes. The expression rates of IL-13 and its receptors in MF lesions increased along with the progression of MF. Additionally, the expression rates of IL-13 (10.00% ± 3.14%) , IL-13Rα1 (21.43% ± 6.88%) and IL-13Rα2 (31.14% ± 6.38%) significantly decreased in MF lesions at stage Ⅰ compared with those at stageⅡ (27.50% ± 11.00%, 39.45% ± 9.43%, 44.40% ± 11.15%, respectively, all P < 0.05) , but no significant differences were observed between stageⅠA andⅠB, or between stageⅡA and ⅡB (P > 0.05) .

IL-13 and its receptors, especially IL-13Rα2, may be expected to serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis of MF and prediction of its biological behaviors.

Mycosis fungoides; Cell transformation, neoplastic; Interleukin-13; Interleukin-13 receptor alpha1 subunit; Interleukin-13 receptor alpha2 subunit