Thymosin-inducible 'null' cells in atopic eczema.
Thirty children with atopic eczema were compared with an equal number of age-matched healthy children. The mean peripheral blood T-lymphocyte level was lower in the eczema group (mean 1,197/mm2 as against 1,702/mm3; P = 0 . 003). This difference was abolished in vitro by thymosin, a thymic hormone extract. Positive correlations were found between eczema severity and: eosinophilia; hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E; but not T lymphopaenia. Thymosin-inducible T-cell (Ti) counts correlated with plasma IgE levels, suggesting that these Ti cells may be immature suppressor T cells. If this T-cell deficiency represents inadequate suppression of IgE responses, then a trial of treatment with thymosin appears to be warranted.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004485:Eczema / Q000276:immunology*; D004802:Eosinophilia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007223:Infant; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008231:Lymphopenia; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013947:Thymosin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013951:Thymus Hormones; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D013947:Thymosin