FcIgG receptor-bearing lymphocytes and monoclonal antibody-defined T cell subsets in atopic dermatitis: effect of treatment with thymopoietin pentapeptide (TP-5).
Lymphocyte subpopulations were determined in the blood of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) before and after treatment with the thymopoietin pentapeptide TP-5. The relative and absolute numbers of lymphocytes bearing suppressor/cytotoxic cell markers (FcIgG+E+ and T8+ cells) were significantly decreased in the untreated patients and the T4+/T8+ cell ratio was increased, indicating an imbalance between lymphocyte subpopulations in AD. Patients who had been treated for 6 weeks with TP-5 displayed no significant abnormality of any of the lymphocyte subsets studied and comparison of pre- and posttreatment values revealed that there was a statistically significant increase in T8+ cell numbers, that by contrast did not take place in placebo-treated AD patients. The treatment had no demonstrable effect on IgE serum levels or on the spontaneous in vitro production of IgE by cultured lymphocytes from the patients.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D016305:Thymopentin; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D013946:Thymopoietins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D016305:Thymopentin