title: In vitro genetically aberrant T-cell clones with continuous growth are associated with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis is a disease with a genetic predisposition affecting the immune system, with T lymphocytes participating in the immune dysregulation. Most in vitro T lymphocyte studies of atopic dermatitis have focused on antigen-specific T-cell clones. However, antigen-non-specific regulatory T lymphocytes may also take part in the pathway leading to antigen-specific clonal T-lymphocyte proliferation. T lymphocytes from skin biopsy specimens from three patients with severe atopic dermatitis were cultured in the presence of IL-2 and IL-4, but without antigen added. Initially, proliferation was oligo- or polyclonal, but in all cases overgrowth by T cells with clonal chromosomal aberrations was subsequently observed. These abnormal T-cell clones demonstrated continuous growth and complete or partial phenotypic loss of the T-cell antigen receptor complex. In summary, these findings suggest that a subset of aberrant skin-homing T lymphocytes is associated with atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaltoft
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lemonidis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frydenberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thestrup-Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*; D002999:Clone Cells; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*