House dust mite-specific T cells in the skin of subjects with atopic dermatitis: frequency and lymphokine profile in the allergen patch test.
The mechanism underlying positive patch tests with house dust mite-allergen, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), in patients with atopic dermatitis was investigated by isolating T cells from the test sites of two patients. Eighty-five T cell clones (TCC) were established from the epidermis and dermis of lesional skin by the limiting-dilution method with Der p and interleukin (IL)-2. With restimulation assays, 29 of 60 TCCs tested demonstrated specific proliferation; 85% were of the CD3+, CD2+, and CD4+ phenotype. Der p-specific T cells constituted 0.4% to 2.7% of lesional T cells, and they were more frequent in the skin than in the blood of the patients by one order of magnitude. The mitogen-stimulated lymphokine profile of 55 TCCs was assessed; 42% (11/26) of the allergen-specific TCCs secreted IL-4 but almost no interferon-gamma, as described for the Th2 subset of the mouse. Also, six selected TCCs supported IgE secretion by autologous lymphocytes. Only three of 26 allergen-specific, skin-derived TCCs demonstrated a Th1-like lymphokine profile. These results support the specific nature of Der p-induced patch test lesions in patients with atopic dermatitis, and the results demonstrate also that a considerable proportion of lesional T cells are allergen-specific, IL-4-producing T cells that are capable of enhancing IgE production.
Department of Dermatology, Medical School Hannover, Germany.
N
N
Sager
A
A
Feldmann
G
G
Schilling
P
P
Kreitsch
C
C
Neumann
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D002999:Clone Cells; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D000939:Epitopes; D008222:Lymphokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma