Subacute and chronic prurigo effectively treated with recombination interferon-gamma: implications for participation of Th2 cells in the pathogenesis of prurigo.
Subacute and chronic prurigo is notoriously resistant to usual therapies. Four of five patients with a subacute or chronic form of prurigo responded well to daily intravenous injections of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) (0.25-2 x 10(6) Japan Reference Unit (JRU; 1 JRU roughly corresponds to 4 NIH units) daily, for 10-14 days). In one patient examined, the dermal portion of lesional skin before the treatment contained considerable amounts of mRNA for interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-10, indicative of infiltration of Th2 cells. Furthermore, the administration of rIFN-gamma selectively down-regulated mRNA for Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These findings suggest that Th2 cells play a pathogenic role in these types of prurigo and that rIFN-gamma exerts its efficacy by inhibiting Th2 cells. Our pilot study suggests that the systemic administration of rIFN-gamma is a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of recalcitrant prurigo.
Tokura
Y
Y
Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.
Yagi
H
H
Hanaoka
K
K
Ito
T
T
Towyama
K
K
Sachi
Y
Y
Tanaka
M
M
Sakamoto
T
T
Sekizuka
T
T
Furukawa
F
F
Takigawa
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011536:Prurigo / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007378:Interleukins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma