CD4+ memory T cells in peripheral blood are not decreased in patients with atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a severe and chronic eczematous skin disease, to which increased IgE levels and imbalances of CD4+ T cells are related. CD4+ T cells, however, are heterogeneous and include at least two subpopulations being designated as CD4+ naive and memory T cells. They represent sequential maturational stages (naive into memory) in CD4+ T cell development differing in function and phenotype. Of these two subpopulations the CD4+ memory T cell compartment is a potent producer of gamma-interferon which suppresses IgE synthesis in B cells. Therefore, we speculated whether an inborn maturation defect of CD4+ memory T cells causes the increased IgE production in AD. In patients with AD and age- and sex-matched controls (both n = 10) we analyzed the distribution of both subpopulations in peripheral blood by two-color flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against the CD4, CD45RA and CD29 antigen. We provide evidence that the numerical values of CD4+ memory T cells and CD4+ naive T cells are equivalent in both groups. This supports the view that functional disturbances of lymphocytes or lymphocyte subsets are responsible for IgE excess and the pathogenesis of AD.
Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel, FRG.
J
J
Burgard
V
V
Mielke
G
G
Leimenstoll
W
W
Sterry
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets