Common pathogenetic pathways in allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.
Despite their different pathogeneses, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis show a remarkable similarity with respect to clinical appearance, histology, and immunohistology. To further analyze this apparent contradiction, our study was designed to meticulously compare cellular infiltrates in irritant and allergic patch-test reactions by immunostaining with a broad panel of monoclonal antibodies. For this purpose, skin biopsies from allergic and irritant patch-test reactions of similar inflammatory degree were obtained from the same probands. We found that after 72 h both types of reaction were characterized by an identical dermal infiltrate consisting mainly of memory T cells, many of which were activated, and macrophages. Dermal and epidermal Langerhans cell density and HLA--DR expression of keratinocytes were also virtually identical. Our results show that antigen recognition by specific memory T cells as well as irritants can finally induce the same pattern of inflammation, including activation of T cells obviously independent of exogenous antigen.
Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel, FRG.
J
J
Brasch
J
J
Burgard
W
W
Sterry
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic