In the present study, to elucidate the role of serum cytokines and autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of PSS, we compared serum levels of major Th1 and Th17 related cytokines (i.e., IL-1β, IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17) and serum positive rates of autoantibodies (i.e., ANA, anti-dsDNA, AKA, ANCA, ACA-IgG, ACA-IgM, ACA-IgA, GPI and anti-CCP) between PSS patients and normal controls. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and peeling skin syndrome.