Interleukin-1-like activity in horny layer extracts: decreased activity in scale extracts of psoriasis and sterile pustular dermatoses.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1)-like activity was assessed in scale extracts prepared from skin specimens from 36 cases of psoriasis and other dermatoses characterized by the formation of sterile subcorneal pustules. IL-1 activity was detected in only 2 samples. In contrast, much higher IL-1 activity was demonstrated in horny tissue extracts prepared either from normal skin or from noninflammatory skin such as plantar callus, scar or ichthyosis. No correlation was found between neutrophil chemotactic activity and IL-1 activity demonstrable in horny tissue extracts.